Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Bone Metabolism

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to review the literature on omega-3 fatty acids and bone biology based on in vivo investigations and bone cell cultures. A recent search for publications indexed from January 1, 1999, to the present in PubMed using specific key words, resulted in the following number of refereed publications. The following key words were searched: PUFA and bone, 57 publications; omega-3 and bone, 89 publications; fatty acids and bone, 315 publications; and lipids and bone, 7891 publications. Publications for this review were selected based on human and animal studies that used or investigated the actions of omega-3 fatty acids or utilized bone cell cultures to understand their actions on bone formation. Herein, we explain the actions of omega-3 fatty acids on (1) the relationships between muscle and bone, (2) bone formation and bone mineral status in vivo, (3) recent findings in human and animal models, and (4) arthritis. The current findings of omega-3 fatty acids and their effects on bone modeling and remodeling are summarized and presented in table format (Tables 16.1 and 16.2). A major limitation of the research on omega-3 fatty acids and bone is the lack of consistent test mixtures and protocols to evaluate bone formation and resorption in modeling and remodeling bone. However, the future is promising because of the positive association between docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and bone mineral density (BMD) in children and, in some studies, in adults. Fundamental knowledge on the differences between the actions of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA in bone cell cultures and animal models is now developing. The research is also testing various mechanisms CONTENTS