MedWire News: Bone mineral density (BMD) may be boosted by high intake of omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA), suggest results from a study of elderly men and women.

Long-chain O3FAs are known to reduce production of inflammatory cytokines and alter membrane function, while in vitro and animal studies have suggested that fish oil supplements can inhibit bone resorption, increase calcium absorption, and enhance calcium bone deposition, explain Anne Kenny (University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, USA) and co-workers.

Hypothesizing that dietary intake of O3FAs could alter levels of BMD and the risk for osteoporosis, the team recruited 118 men and 129 women aged over 60 years living in the community or an assisted living facility.

The participants were asked to report their intake of O3FAs, omega-6 (O6)FAs, protein and total calories, and their diet information was collated with hip or heel BMD, and the results of a battery of lower extremity function tests.

As reported in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, the patients had an average O3FA intake of 1.27 g/day.

Analysis revealed a positive and significant correlation between O3FA intake and T-scores for the femur or combined femur and heel.

There was also a significant correlation between O3FA intake and leg strength and chair rise time, but these were no longer significant after adjusting for protein intake, the researchers say.

Furthermore, in multiple regression analysis, O3FA intake was the only significant predictive factor for femoral neck BMD, accounting for up to 6% of variance in density.

“Results from this preliminary report are promising and suggest further investigation,” Kenny et al conclude.

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