Elderly and nutrition: omega-3 consumption helps to stay young by improving physical abilities
Elderly and Nutrition: Omega-3 Consumption Helps Stay Young by Improving Physical Abilities
In elderly people, omega-3 consumption can have positive effects not only on cognitive abilities but is also associated with better physical performance. Individuals over seventy with a high Omega-3 Index, in fact, score higher on tests assessing lower limb functionality compared to those with a low Omega-3 Index.
These are the results of a study published in Clinical Nutrition by researchers from the University of Toulouse, France.
Omega-3s Help Maintain Health, Especially in Old Age
Numerous scientific studies have linked omega-3 fatty acids to a range of positive health effects, including improvements in brain, cardiovascular, and immune functions, bone health, and increased sports performance. There is ample evidence suggesting that omega-3s, thanks to their strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, may be useful in treating conditions associated with increased inflammatory states, such as muscle mass loss and physical frailty.
Furthermore, it has been shown that EPA and DHA can facilitate red blood cells’ passage through capillaries, which could lead to greater oxygen delivery to the musculoskeletal system and subsequent improvement in physical performance. Finally, a potential role of omega-3s in preventing age-related physical decline might partly be explained by their ability to increase muscle protein synthesis.
The Omega-3 Index indicates the amount of EPA and DHA relative to the total fatty acids present in red blood cell membranes and is a marker of omega-3 status—a good indicator of omega-3 intake through diet, and also considered a measure of their long-term consumption. However, to date few studies have explored the association between the Omega-3 Index and physical performance in older adults. The purpose of the French study was precisely to evaluate the association between omega-3 status and SPPB scores in the elderly.
The SPPB test is a battery of tests that measures physical performance, designed to assess lower limb functionality. It is a marker of age-related decline in physical performance and is identified as a good predictor of motor disability and mortality in the elderly.
Is There a Relationship Between the Omega-3 Index and Motor Abilities?
The study authors tested the link between omega-3 status and physical function performance tests in people over seventy, studying the associations with the Omega-3 Index, which measures EPA and DHA content in red blood cells. Results showed that subjects with a low Omega-3 Index scored worse on the performance tests than those with a high Omega-3 Index. However, this association was not statistically significant.
There may be several reasons why the association described in the study did not reach statistical significance, as noted by the authors, who emphasized that the cross-sectional nature of the study and the relatively good health conditions of the participants may have influenced the results and their applicability to the elderly population in general.
Some Details of the Study
To participate in the study, 1,149 elderly individuals were enrolled, 64.5% of whom were women, aged between 71 and 80 years, at risk of cognitive decline. Inclusion criteria were memory deficits, limitation in memory related to a single instrumental activity of daily living (such as using the telephone, shopping, or preparing meals), and slow walking speed. Exclusion criteria included a diagnosis of dementia and the presence of other diseases such as Parkinson’s disease.
Additionally, subjects who had taken omega-3 supplements in the last six months were excluded. Statistical analysis revealed that participants in the lowest omega-3 level group—that is, those with the lowest Omega-3 Index levels—showed a significantly lower SPPB score compared to participants in the other three groups with higher Omega-3 Index levels. However, after adjusting results for age, gender, cognitive function, depressive status, and body mass index, data showed that the association between the Omega-3 Index and SPPB test did not reach statistical significance.
Prevention Through Nutrition
This research hypothesizes a relationship between omega-3 levels and motor functions, but further studies examining long-term associations between omega-3 status and changes in physical performance will be necessary to clarify this link. The results mainly show that identifying modifiable risk factors, such as nutrition, for decline in physical performance is essential to planning effective primary prevention strategies for disability in the elderly.
It Is Possible to Measure Your Omega-3 Index
The Omega-3 Index is an independent measure from estimated dietary omega-3 consumption that can be especially useful for assessing cardiac risk, or simply to know if enough EPA and DHA are being consumed. Today, measuring your Omega-3 Index is very easy thanks to HS-Omega-3 Index, which allows anyone to easily determine their Omega-3 Index at home.
Simply collect 3 drops of blood on a special filter paper that must be sent to a specific laboratory. The result will be communicated within a few days via email.
Source: Bertrand Fougère, et al:, “Red blood cell membrane omega-3 fatty acid levels and physical performance: Cross-sectional data from the MAPT study”. Clinical Nutrition. Volume 37, Issue 4, August 2018, Pages 1141-1144.
