The omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish fat make it easier for the elderly to stay fit, informs the BBC News service
In healthy people, the aging process reduces muscle mass by 0,5-2 percent. annually. In advanced cases, muscle atrophy leads to disability, and it is also easier for serious falls to occur. According to American data, 25 percent. people aged 50 to 70 suffer from muscle wasting, and after 80 years – more than half.
The rate of muscle wasting is accelerated by a sedentary lifestyle and a low-protein diet. Veterinary research has shown that a feed rich in omega-3 fatty acids increases the muscle mass of livestock.
Scientists from the University of Aberdeen (Great Britain) decided to check what it looks like in rats, and then – in humans. And they showed that the strength of the leg muscles of women over 65, taking omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), increased as a result of exercise (12 weeks, half an hour a day) by 20%, while in the group taking olive oil only by 11 percent.
Previous work has linked a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as mackerel and sardines, to potential health benefits such as a lower risk of heart disease.
According to Dr. Stuart Gray from the University of Aberdeen, the costs associated with the care and hospitalization of people with muscle wasting are very high – about 1,5 percent. total healthcare budget in the US.
To confirm the obtained results, the authors plan to conduct larger-scale studies on older people of both sexes. They also stipulate that not every supplement provides a sufficiently large dose of omega-3, i.e. as much as half a portion of fatty fish. (PAP)
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