RETRACTED ARTICLE: Omega-3 fatty acid levels in red blood cell membranes and physical decline over 3 years: longitudinal data from the MAPT study

Abstract

Studies have shown that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are associated with brain, cardiovascular, and immune function, as well as physical performance and bone health in older adults. So far, few studies have investigated the associations between PUFA status and performancebased tests of physical function. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between the omega-3 PUFA levels (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) in red blood cell (RBC) membranes and physical performance, in a sample of community-dwelling older adults. This is a longitudinal observational study using data from the Multidomain Alzheimer's Disease Trial (MAPT), a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Four hundred participants from MAPT placebo group with available PUFA data were included. Omega-3 PUFA levels in RBC membranes were measured at baseline, and their percentage of total RBC membrane fatty acid content was calculated. We dichotomized the standardized omega-3 PUFA levels in RBC membranes as low (lowest quartile) vs. high (three upper quartiles). Gait speed (in m/s) and short physical performance battery (SPPB) score (range from 0 to 12, higher is better) were used to assess physical performance at baseline and after 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. Participants were 75.2 (± 4.3) years old and 68% were female. Bivariate analyses found that the characteristic of the participants in the lowest quartile of omega-3 PUFA levels (Q1) and those in the three upper quartiles (Q2-Q4) was not different at baseline; only those in Q1 were slightly older. In an unadjusted model, the difference in gait speed after 3 years of follow-up was significant (− 0.09 ± 0.03 m/s; p = 0.008) between participants in Q1 and those in Q2-Q4. In a model adjusted for age, gender, educational level, cognitive function, depressive status, body mass index, physical activity, grip strength, and their time interaction, this difference remained clinically relevant (− 0.07 ± 0.04 m/s; p = 0.075). No difference between the two groups was found for the SPPB score development over 3 years. Older adults with subjective memory complaints and in the lower quartile of omega-3 have a faster decline on gait speed compared to people in the three upper quartiles. Other longitudinal studies are needed to explore this association and to examine mechanisms.

An Update on Protein, Leucine, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Vitamin D in the Prevention and Treatment of Sarcopenia and Functional Decline

“…One study found baseline total plasma n -3 PUFAs and DHA to be associated with incidences of self-reported mobility disability after five years in healthy older women only (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.25–0.93), suggesting that there may be a sex-specific biological role for DHA in mobility [ 117 ]. However, other studies found no relationship with the relative change in muscular parameters [ 116 ], decline in gait speed [ 117 , 118 ], or decline in physical performance [ 118 ] after three and five years. As frequently encountered with longitudinal studies, the decline in the main outcome or the incidence of the condition being looked at may not have been sufficient to detect significant associations.…”

A daily dose of fish oil increased the omega‐3 index in older adults and reduced their heart rate during a walking activity: A pilot study

“…When assessed for walking speed at baseline, participants achieved usual speeds of >1.25 m/s, far exceeding the normative values for age (Bohannon & Williams Andrews, 2011). Therefore, a further improvement was most unlikely with fish oil supplementation and the beneficial effects of fish oil on walking speed may only be evident in adults with failing health, with slow walking speeds of 1.1 m/s or less (Fougère et al, 2017). Moreover, detrimental effects of a low omega‐3 status on walking speed are only evident in those adults with failing health and an O3I below 4.9% (Fougère et al, 2017), suggestive of a dietary deficit, whereas our healthy participants had a mean O3I of 6% at baseline prior to fish oil supplementation.…”

“…Therefore, a further improvement was most unlikely with fish oil supplementation and the beneficial effects of fish oil on walking speed may only be evident in adults with failing health, with slow walking speeds of 1.1 m/s or less (Fougère et al, 2017). Moreover, detrimental effects of a low omega-3 status on walking speed are only evident in those adults with failing health and an O3I below 4.9% (Fougère et al, 2017), suggestive of a dietary deficit, whereas our healthy participants had a mean O3I of 6% at baseline prior to fish oil supplementation. Such a hypothesis is supported by cohort studies where plasma omega-3 PUFA, reflective of dietary consumption, has TA B L E 3 Overnight heart rate and heart rate variability, before and after control and fish oil supplementation for 16 weeks been observed to protect against decline in physical performance (Abbatecola et al, 2009) and fish oil supplementation was associated with a lower risk of incurring a loss in ability to walk 400 m (Balachandran et al, 2020).…”

Potential Adverse Cardiovascular Effects of Treatment With Fluoxetine and Other Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) in Patients With Geriatric Depression: Implications for Atherogenesis and Cerebromicrovascular Dysregulation

“…While the structurally related antidepressants mianserin and mirtazapine extend lifespan and increase cellular oxidative stress resistance, fluoxetine exerts marked progeronic effects (Rangaraju et al, 2015). Despite recent advances in geroscience (Ashpole et al, 2017; Bennis et al, 2017; Fang et al, 2017; Fougere et al, 2017; Kim et al, 2017; Konopka et al, 2017; Podlutsky et al, 2017; Urfer et al, 2017) presently its unknown, which pathways involved in regulation of longevity and cellular resilience are modulated by SSRIs. The evolutionarily conserved mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) pathway plays an integral role in the coordination of metabolism, protein synthesis, cell growth, and inflammation and thereby regulates cellular stress resistance, modulates aging processes, and determines mammalian lifespan (Harrison et al, 2009; Lin et al, 2013; Dai et al, 2014; Fok et al, 2014; Lesniewski et al, 2017).…”