Researchers at the University of South Florida and University of Kentucky carried out an eight-week dietary intervention on adult and aging rats.* They were assigned either a control diet or one containing EPAX 4020 TGN. The results showed that inclusion of EPAX 4020 TGN in the diet significantly improved recovery of aged muscle strength to levels similar to those seen in adult muscles at 7 days post-injury after a seven-day recovery period.

Additionally, the study demonstrated that voluntary grip strength of aged rats on the EPAX 4020 TGN diet was better maintained than that of those on the control diet.    

Figure 1 shows the effect of injury on muscle strength and how supplementation promotes muscle recovery.  

To answer how this happens, the investigators looked into the effects of Omega-3 on membrane damage using an analysis of muscle cells in culture. Cell membrane damage can occur after a fall or other damaging event. Similar damage can also occur as a result of compression injuries, or with regular training in athletes. Damage after training contributes to post-training soreness.

The study showed that incubation of cells with EPAX 4020 TGN improved muscle cell membrane repair after damage.  

The findings suggest that EPAX 4020 TGN may aid recovery of muscle function that is impaired as a result of aging or injury. They also indicated that repair of cell membrane damage may be a mechanism for muscle repair.  

*Russ DW, Sehested C, Banford K, Weisleder NL. Fish Oil Supplement Mitigates Muscle Injury In Vivo and In Vitro: A Preliminary Report. Nutrients. 2024 Oct 16;16(20):3511. doi: 10.3390/nu16203511. PMID: 39458505; PMCID: PMC11510179.

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