Increased Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake is Inversely Associated with Sarcopenic Obesity in Women but not in Men, Based on the 2014-2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Hee-Taik Kang,Woojung Yang,Jae-Woo Lee,Yonghwan Kim,Jong Hun Lee

doi:10.3390/jcm9123856

Abstract

(1) Background: Omega-3 fatty acids (ω3FAs) are known to improve protein anabolism, increase the sensitivity to anabolic stimuli, decrease lipogenesis, and stimulate lipid oxidation. We aim to investigate whether ω3FAs are associated with the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity (SO). (2) Methods: Data were obtained from the 2014–2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The ratio of daily ω3FA intake to energy intake (ω3FA ratio) was categorized into four quartile groups. (3) Results: The prevalence of SO from Q1 to Q4 was 8.9%, 11.3%, 11.0%, and 9.8% respectively, in men and 17.4%, 14.0%, 13.9%, and 10.1% respectively, in women. The ω3FA ratio in individuals with and without SO were 1.0% and 0.9% in men (p-value = 0.271) respectively, and 0.8% and 1.0% in women (p-value = 0.017), respectively. Compared with Q1, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of Q2, Q3, and Q4 of ω3FA ratios were 1.563 (0.802–3.047), 1.246 (0.611–2.542), and 0.924 (0.458–1.864) respectively, in men and 0.663 (0.379–1.160), 0.640 (0.372–1.102), and 0.246 (0.113–0.534) respectively, in women, after fully adjusting for confounding factors. (4) Conclusions: The ω3FA ratio was significantly higher in older females without SO than in older females with SO. The ω3FA ratio was associated with the prevalence of SO in elderly females.

Highlights

The greatest epidemiological trend in Korea in the 21st century is the unprecedented growth of the rapidly aging population
We aim to investigate whether ω3FAs are associated with the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity (SO). (2) Methods: Data were obtained from the 2014–2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Sarcopenia and obesity in the elderly are frequently related to physical disability and visceral fat accumulation, displaying a synergistic interaction that can lead to a vicious cycle [2,3]

Summary

Introduction

The greatest epidemiological trend in Korea in the 21st century is the unprecedented growth of the rapidly aging population. Aging leads to a progressive decrease in muscle mass (sarcopenia) and an increase in fat mass (obesity) [1]. With the most rapidly aging population in the world, may confront a massive increase in the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity (SO). Omega-3 fatty acids (ω3FAs) are known to improve net muscle protein anabolism by activating the mammalian target of rapamycin/ribosomal protein kinase S6 (mTORp/70s6k) signaling pathway [5,6]. This signaling pathway increases the sensitivity of responses to anabolic stimuli such as enhanced protein intake, resistance exercise, and insulin [5,6]. Ω3FAs are found to downregulate lipogenesis by inhibiting differentiation of adipocytes by competing with prostacyclin (PGI2) in downstream [7,8] and to stimulate basal lipid oxidation by increasing the activity of peroxisomal acyl-CoA oxidase [9,10]

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