Linoleic Acid-Rich Oil for Sarcopenia

Overseen By Rachel Cole

Age: 65+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Ohio State University

Must not be taking: Blood thinners, Weight loss meds

Disqualifiers: Gastrointestinal diseases, Heart disease, Cancer, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 24 weeks

66 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial examines how a daily dose of linoleic acid-rich oil might benefit older adults with sarcopenia, a condition characterized by weaker and smaller muscles. The researchers aim to determine if this oil can enhance muscle strength, size, stamina, and movement. Participants will consume either oil rich in linoleic acid or a placebo oil with oleic acid. This trial suits individuals with probable sarcopenia who typically consume less linoleic acid than recommended. As an unphased study, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding how dietary changes might improve muscle health in older adults.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you stop using supplements or medications for weight loss and blood thinner medications. If you are taking these, you will need to stop before participating.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that high linoleic safflower oil is generally safe to eat, although specific safety data for humans is limited. Linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid found in many food oils, has been part of diets for a long time. Some studies suggest that consuming linoleic acid may offer health benefits, such as reducing the risk of certain diseases. However, concerns exist that excessive intake might increase the risk of issues like skin cancer.

For high oleic safflower oil, used as a placebo in this trial, specific safety data is unavailable. However, its common use in cooking suggests it is generally well-tolerated.

Overall, both types of safflower oil are regularly consumed in everyday diets, and no major safety concerns have been noted for typical use. However, individual reactions can vary. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Researchers are excited about using high linoleic safflower oil for sarcopenia because it offers a fresh approach to muscle health. Unlike standard treatments that often focus on exercise and protein supplementation, this oil leverages linoleic acid, a natural component, to potentially enhance muscle mass and strength. The simplicity of consuming just 12 grams of this oil daily could make it an easy addition to daily routines, offering a novel dietary intervention to combat muscle loss.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for sarcopenia?

Research has shown that linoleic acid, found in high linoleic safflower oil, might improve muscle function. Participants in this trial will receive high linoleic safflower oil to evaluate its effects on muscle health. Studies suggest it can enhance mitochondrial function, crucial for energy production in cells. This improvement could strengthen muscles, particularly in older adults experiencing muscle loss, a condition known as sarcopenia. Although direct evidence from human studies remains limited, positive results in animal studies are encouraging. This makes linoleic acid-rich oil a promising option for improving muscle health. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Martha Belury, PhD RDN

Principal Investigator

Ohio State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for older adults with sarcopenia, which means they have lost muscle strength and mass. Participants will need to consume oil daily as part of the study.

Inclusion Criteria

I likely have muscle loss due to aging or illness.

Linoleic Acid Intake <75% of the adequate intake

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnancy and lactation

Any dietary restriction where consumption of the study foods or any ingredient would be contraindicated

Alcohol or drug abuse

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants consume 12g of high linoleic safflower oil or high oleic safflower oil daily to assess changes in muscle strength, volume, fatigue resistance, and mobility

24 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• High Linoleic Acid Foods
• High Oleic Acid Foods

Trial Overview The FORCES Study is testing if eating foods high in linoleic acid or oleic acid can improve muscle strength, size, endurance, and mobility in older people with weakened muscles.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: High Linoleic Safflower Oil Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

consumption of 12g of high linoleic safflower oil every day

Group II: High Oleic Safflower Oil Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Consumption of 12g of high oleic safflower oil every day

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Ohio State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

891

Recruited

2,659,000+

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Collaborator

Trials

2,896

Recruited

8,053,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of elderly patients with type 2 diabetes, those diagnosed with sarcopenia had significantly lower omega-3 fatty acid intake compared to those without sarcopenia, suggesting a potential link between omega-3 consumption and muscle mass preservation.

Higher omega-3 fatty acid intake was associated with a reduced likelihood of sarcopenia, with an odds ratio of 0.29, indicating that increased intake may help protect against muscle loss in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reduced dietary omega-3 fatty acids intake is associated with sarcopenia in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study of KAMOGAWA-DM cohort study. Okamura, T., Hashimoto, Y., Miki, A., et al.[2020]

Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can improve lower body strength and functional performance in older adults, as shown by significant improvements in timed-up-and-go and sit-to-stand tests across 16 studies involving 2438 participants.

However, omega-3 supplementation did not have a significant effect on overall lean tissue mass or upper body strength, indicating that its benefits may be more specific to lower body functionality.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Omega-3 Supplementation Alone and Combined with Resistance Exercise on Skeletal Muscle in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cornish, SM., Cordingley, DM., Shaw, KA., et al.[2023]

Linolenic acid, an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, significantly improved muscle function in the model organism C. elegans by enhancing mitochondrial function and promoting mitophagy, which is crucial for muscle health.

The study found that linolenic acid increased the expression of key genes involved in mitophagy and oxidative stress response, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic option for treating sarcopenia, a condition characterized by age-related muscle loss.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Linolenic acid ameliorates sarcopenia in C. elegans by promoting mitophagy and fighting oxidative stress. Zhang, L., Zhang, X., Zhang, T., et al.[2023]

In a study analyzing data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a higher ratio of omega-3 fatty acid (ω3FA) intake was linked to a lower prevalence of sarcopenic obesity (SO) in older women, suggesting a protective effect of ω3FAs against SO.

The results indicated that older females without SO had a significantly higher ω3FA ratio compared to those with SO, highlighting the potential importance of ω3FAs in maintaining muscle health and preventing obesity-related issues in the elderly.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Increased Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake is Inversely Associated with Sarcopenic Obesity in Women but not in Men, Based on the 2014-2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Yang, W., Lee, JW., Kim, Y., et al.[2020]

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 observational studies involving 3704 participants found that higher intake of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) is linked to a lower risk of sarcopenia, with a significant effect size indicating this relationship.

While the findings suggest that increasing MUFA intake may help in preventing sarcopenia, the authors note that more research is needed to confirm this association due to the limited number of studies available.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Relationship between monounsaturated fatty acids and sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Ali, S., Corbi, G., Medoro, A., et al.[2023]

In a study of 3,812 older adults in Korea, higher intake of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and fish was linked to lower prevalence of low lean mass (LLM) in women, suggesting a protective effect against muscle loss.

The research found that muscle mass in women was positively correlated with EPA, DHA, and fish consumption, while no similar associations were observed in men, indicating that dietary n-3 PUFA may have gender-specific benefits for muscle health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and fish associated with prevalence of low lean mass and muscle mass among older women: Analysis of Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2008-2011. Kim, Y., Park, Y.[2023]

Citations

1. cdn.nutrition.org cdn.nutrition.org/article/S2475-2991(25)02790-8/pdf

The Effects of Linoleic Acid-Rich Safflower Oil on Muscle ... Results: We hypothesize that consuming foods made with the. LA-rich safflower oil will increase muscle strength and function in older adults with sarcopenia.

2. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/392220405_The_Effects_of_Linoleic_Acid-Rich_Safflower_Oil_on_Muscle_Function_Strength_and_Mass_in_Adults_With_Sarcopenia_Study_Protocol_for_a_Randomized_Control_Trial

The Effects of Linoleic Acid-Rich Safflower Oil on Muscle ... The Effects of Linoleic Acid-Rich Safflower Oil on Muscle Function, Strength and Mass in Adults With Sarcopenia: Study Protocol for a Randomized ...

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-sarcopenia-4-2024-d102c

Linoleic Acid-Rich Oil for Sarcopenia Linolenic acid, an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, significantly improved muscle function in the model organism C. elegans by enhancing mitochondrial function ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10386285/

Linoleic Acid: A Narrative Review of the Effects ... An excessive intake of LA leads to the formation of oxidized linoleic acid metabolites (OXLAMs), impairments in mitochondrial function through suboptimal ...

5. cdn.nutrition.org cdn.nutrition.org/article/S2475-2991(25)02791-X/pdf

Oral Health Outcomes as a Surrogate Measure for Bone Mineral ... P11-013-25 The Effects of Linoleic Acid-Rich Safflower Oil on Muscle Function, Strength and Mass in Adults With. Sarcopenia: Study Protocol for a Randomized ...

6. journals.lww.com journals.lww.com/nutritiontodayonline/fulltext/9900/health_implications_of_linoleic_acid_and_seed_oil.50.aspx

Health Implications of Linoleic Acid and Seed Oil Intake This article summarizes the health effects of seed oils and LA. Observational evidence shows higher intake of LA is associated with lower risk of ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0939475320302222

Conjugated linoleic acid supplements preserve muscle in ... CLA may preserve muscle mass in Chinese adults with elevated body fat regardless of BMI. · The effects of CLA on muscle are potentially stronger in men, those ...

8. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/359742899_Linoleic_Acid_Intake_and_Physical_Function_Pilot_Results_from_the_Health_ABC_Energy_Expenditure_Sub-Study

Linoleic Acid Intake and Physical Function: Pilot Results ... In this pilot study, we sought to examine the associations between linoleic acid intake and physical functioning in older adults. Methods: This ...