Fish Oils and their Potential in the Treatment of Sarcopenia

We are living in an "ageing society" meaning that there will be an increase in the incidence of age related health problems. One issue consistently observed in ageing is for muscle mass and strength to be reduced, a condition termed sarcopenia. The consequences of these changes are numerous and include a reduction in quality of life and an increased risk of falls. The mechanisms underlying sarcopenia remain to be elucidated but include an anabolic resistance to both nutrients and exercise and so the search for strategies to overcome this resistance is of great importance. There are several nutritional strategies purported to be useful in the treatment of sarcopenia and in recent years the n-3 PUFAs found in fish oil have been of increasing interest. This review will discuss the main nutritional interventions used in the treatment of sarcopenia with a focus on fish oils.