Stronger muscles, less loss: What omega-3 could mean for muscle health
In the build up to the Sports Nutrition Summit in San Diego, we report a recent pre-clinical study by Obrosov at the University of Iowa, showing that Omega-3 supplementation retained muscle mass during muscle disuse [1].
This is a very interesting and relevant study for both athletes and for the ageing population alike. Our muscle mass and muscle quality results from the sum of muscle protein breakdown and muscle proteinsynthesis. Our muscles are continuously being broken down and rebuilt; it’s the balance between these actions that determines our overall status. Training and a protein-sufficient diet favour muscle synthesis while inactivity tips the scaleto a net loss of muscle.
In the Obrosov study, animals were fed lardor fish oil and muscle mass was measured in a free limb and a limb that was fully immobilised – a situation similar to a human having an arm or leg in a cast. We all know that in this situation we lose muscle mass – but this study showed a dramatic retention of muscle mass with fish oil, particularly with DHA. The study went further and gave insight into the mechanism of action showing similar muscle retention after injection of a DHA-derived SPM called RD1.
These muscle effects align with those froma pre-clinical study where EPAX 4020 TGN intake resulted in improved recovery after muscle injury potentially through improved function of neuro muscular junctions [2].
Confirmation of Obrosov´s study has been demonstrated in human studies. In the trial by McGlory, immobilisation of a leg again led to muscle loss that was blunted with omega-3 supplementation [3].
Immobilisation provides a controlled means of studying muscle turnover but the results are also relevant to healthy individuals due to the breakdown/synthesis balance. The dataimply that omega-3 can have an indirect effect on increasing muscle mass by reducing the decline in muscle protein synthesis and potentially slowing breakdown.
Omega-3 fatty acids have been purported to have several effects on muscle health and athletic performance including effects on inflammation, mitochondrial function, anti-oxidant regulation and sensitisation to exercise and diet.
You can read more about this on our whitepapers “Omega-3 and Healthspan”, and “Omega-3 and Athletic Performance”.
1. Obrosov, O., et al., Skeletal muscle disuse atrophy: protectionby omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Nfs j, 2025. 41.
2. Russ, D.W., et al., Fish Oil Supplement Mitigates Muscle InjuryIn Vivo and In Vitro: A Preliminary Report. Nutrients, 2024. 16(20).
3. McGlory, C., etal., Omega-3 fatty acid supplementationattenuates skeletal muscle disuse atrophy during two weeks of unilateral legimmobilization in healthy young women. Faseb j, 2019. 33(3): p. 4586-4597.