Long‐chain n‐3 fatty acids – New anabolic compounds improving protein metabolism

Abstract

Previous animal studies demonstrated that chronic feeding of long‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn‐3PUFA) that modifies muscle membrane fatty acid composition promotes protein anabolism by blunting the age‐associated deterioration in insulin sensitivity. The current study assessed, as a proof of concept, the anabolic effects of LCn‐3PUFA‐rich menhaden oil in 78 male castrated pigs (20 kg initial body weight). Pigs were fed for 76 days diets containing 0, 3, or 4% menhaden oil using iso‐energetic oil substitutions in diets typical of swine production (6% fat matter). Performance and body composition were measured using ultrasound technology during growth at 55 and 85 kg according to a complete block design. Menhaden oil feeding linearly reduced feed intake with a decline from 2.58 to 2.51 kg/d (‐3%; P=0.04) at 85 kg body weight without altering body weight gain. Back fat thickness remained unchanged (11.16 mm) between treatments. The diameter of the longissimus dorsi was linearly increased as menhaden oil amount increased (50.0, 50.1, 51.8 mm; P=0.02). The results demonstrate for the first time that LCn‐3PUFA promote muscle protein accretion, this approach could be a novel intervention to ameliorate the age‐related loss of muscle mass in the human.