Gray SR, Da Boit M
J Frailty Aging 2013;2:205-10
Publication date: December 1, 2013
Summary
There are several nutritional strategies purported to be useful in the treatment of sarcopenia. In recent years, the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in fish oil have been of increasing interest. In a review article published in the December 2013 issue of the Journal of Frailty & Aging, Gray and Da Boit discuss the main nutritional interventions used in the treatment of sarcopenia, with a focus on fish oils.
The potential benefits of the n-3 PUFAs found in fish oil in the treatment of sarcopenia could be of great benefit to older adults and help alleviate the burden on health care systems, particularly in the context of an “aging society”. The review highlights the currently available data on n-3 PUFAs and the loss of muscle associated with age. It appears that there may be beneficial physiological effects of n-3 PUFAs in sarcopenia. The clinical significance of these effects and their underlying mechanisms remain to be investigated.