Abstract
PurposeThe aim was to investigate the cross-sectional association of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids PUFA (alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) intake with multiple physical functions, muscle mass and fat mass in older women.MethodStudy subjects were 554 women from the Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention Fracture Prevention Study, with dietary intake assessed with 3-day food record. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Physical function measures included walking speed 10 m, chair rises, one leg stance, knee extension, handgrip strength and squat. Short physical performance battery (SPPB) score was defined based on the European working group on sarcopenia criteria.ResultsThe multivariable adjusted models showed statistically significant associations for dietary ALA with higher SPPB (β = 0.118, P = 0.024), knee extension force at baseline (β = 0.075, P = 0.037) and lower fat mass (β = − 0.081, P = 0.034), as well as longer one-leg stance (β = 0.119, P = 0.010), higher walking speed (β = 0.113, P = 0.047), and ability to squat to the ground (β = 0.110, P = 0.027) at baseline. Total dietary omega-3 PUFA was associated with better SPPB (β = 0.108, P = 0.039), one-leg stance (β = 0.102, P = 0.041) and ability to squat (β = 0.110, P = 0.028), and with walking speed (β = 0.110, P = 0.028). However, associations for dietary EPA and DHA with physical function and body composition were not significant.ConclusionDietary omega-3 and ALA, but not EPA and DHA, were positively associated with muscle strength and function in older women. The intake of omega-3 and its subtypes was not associated with muscle mass. Longitudinal studies are needed to show whether omega-3 intake may be important for muscle function in older women.
Highlights
Ageing is associated with progressive physical function loss, changes in body composition by increase in fat mass and loss of muscle mass
After controlling for selected confounders, higher quartile of omega-3 PUFA and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) were associated with higher SPBB score (P = 0.020 and P = 0.010, respectively), longer one leg stance (P = 0.050 and P = 0.035, respectively), faster walking speed 10 m (P = 0.048 and P = 0.005, respectively), and lower frequency of women with inability to squat to the ground (P = 0.014 and P = 0.004, respectively)
The main result of the present cross-sectional study was that dietary intake of ALA and total omega-3 PUFA were positively associated with physical function assessments, including faster walking speed 10 m, better performance at one leg stance, ability to squat to the ground and Short physical performance battery (SPPB)
Summary
Ageing is associated with progressive physical function loss, changes in body composition by increase in fat mass and loss of muscle mass. Variety of assessment tools are currently available to asses physical function decline in older people, e.g. walking speed, hand grip strength, chair rises, knee extension force which are predictors of physical capacity, falls and hospitalization [2, 3], morbidity, and mortality [4, 5] These physical function assessments are highlighted as significant components of sarcopenia [6] and Fried frailty definition [7]. ALA is found mainly in plant oils such as flaxseed, soybean, and canola oils, whereas DHA and EPA are found in fish and other seafood [12] These fatty acids and their food sources such as fish are embedded in public health recommendations for their beneficial health effects including anti-inflammatory properties [13], and they are suggested to have a role with multiple health outcomes [14] including muscle health [15, 16]. Noteworthy that WHO consortium on healthy ageing 2020 suggested that more research into role of omega-3 PUFA and healthy ageing are needed [17]
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