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

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The proposed research is a parallel arm, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to assess changes in muscle strength, volume, fatigue resistance, and mobility in older adults after daily consumption of 12g of linoleic acid-rich oil.

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.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment High Linoleic Acid Foods, High Oleic Acid Foods for sarcopenia?

Research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids, which are similar to linoleic acid, can help improve muscle strength and function in older adults, potentially benefiting those with sarcopenia. Additionally, linolenic acid, a type of omega-3, has shown promise in improving muscle health in animal studies. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is linoleic acid-rich oil safe for humans?

The research does not provide specific safety data for linoleic acid-rich oil in humans, but omega-3 fatty acids, which are similar, are generally considered safe and have been studied for their benefits in muscle health. ^{1 2 3 5 6}

How does the treatment of high linoleic acid foods differ from other treatments for sarcopenia?

The treatment using high linoleic acid foods is unique because it focuses on dietary intake of specific fatty acids, which may help improve muscle health by promoting mitophagy (the process of cleaning out damaged mitochondria) and reducing oxidative stress. This approach is different from other treatments that often involve omega-3 fatty acids or resistance exercise, as it specifically targets the benefits of linoleic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Research Team

Martha Belury, PhD RDN

Principal Investigator

Ohio State University

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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]

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 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]

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]

References

1. Switzerland 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. [2023]

2. Japan 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. [2020]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Linolenic acid ameliorates sarcopenia in C. elegans by promoting mitophagy and fighting oxidative stress. [2023]

4. Switzerland 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. [2023]

5. Switzerland 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. [2020]

6. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Relationship between monounsaturated fatty acids and sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. [2023]