OMEGA-3

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Osteoporosis is a bone thinning disease that results in fractures that occur with minimal trauma. The direct health care costs related to osteoporosis are estimated to be 14 billion dollars per year, comparable to costs in heart failure and asthma. Frailty or poor physiologic reserve to deal with stressors, in the general population over age 65 is estimated to be 7%; frailty is associated with an increase risk of falls and fracture. Both osteoporosis and frailty are thought to have inflammation as a contributing factor. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil [eicopentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docohexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3)] have been shown to decrease markers of inflammation (cytokines) and decrease death due to heart disease. A number of studies in animals suggest that fish oil (or EPA and DHA supplementation) inhibits bone break down, increases calcium absorped from the diet and and enhances calcium in bone. Studies done in humans are few. The studies have used a mix of essential fatty acids including n-6 and n-3 fatty acids. N-6 fatty acids are thought to increase inflammation while n-3 fatty acids are thought to decrease inflammation. The effects of the fatty acids appear to depend on the level of n-6 to n-3. In one study, investigators demonstrated that n-6/n-3 fatty acid mixture supplementation increased bone mineral density or bone thickness of the spine and hip over 18 months in a group of older, nursing home residents with osteoporosis or low bone mass. As far as we know, no study as evaluated the role of n-3 fatty acids in the frailty syndrome, characterized by sarcopenia or muscle loss, inflammation, low estrogen, growth hormone and testosterone levels, poor nutrition and disability.