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Expert opinion on benefits of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) in aging and clinical nutrition

Expert opinion on benefits of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) in aging and clinical nutrition
Expert opinion on benefits of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) in aging and clinical nutrition
Life expectancy is increasing and so is the prevalence of age-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Consequently, older people and patients present with multi-morbidities and more complex needs, putting significant pressure on healthcare systems. Effective nutrition interventions could be an important tool to address patient needs, improve clinical outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Inflammation plays a central role in NCDs, so targeting it is relevant to disease prevention and treatment. The long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 LCPUFAs) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are known to reduce inflammation and promote its resolution, suggesting a beneficial role in various therapeutic areas. An expert group reviewed the data on omega-3 LCPUFAs in specific patient populations and medical conditions. Evidence for benefits in cognitive health, age- and disease-related decline in muscle mass, cancer treatment, surgical patients and critical illness was identified. Use of DHA and EPA in some conditions is already included in some relevant guidelines. However, it is important to note that data on the effects of omega-3 LCPUFAs are still inconsistent in many areas (e.g., cognitive decline) due to a range of factors that vary amongst the trials performed to date; these factors include dose, timing and duration; baseline omega-3 LCPUFA status; and intake of other nutrients. Well-designed intervention studies are required to optimize the effects of DHA and EPA in specific patient populations and to develop more personalized strategies for their use.

Alzheimer’s disease, Cancer cachexia, Clinical nutrition, DHA and EPA, Frailty, Immunonutrition, Inflammation, Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, Oral nutritional supplementation, Sarcopenia
2072-6643
1-25
Troesch, Barbara
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Eggersdorfer, Manfred
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Laviano, Alessandro
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Rolland, Yves
dff62e4a-f4a0-48e3-afd5-d4b79d036449
Smith, A. David
f43e89e3-8860-4a3c-bc5c-9a8d3ee1fc9d
Warnke, Ines
bc0170de-d9be-41bb-93e2-4e88ce94bb55
Weimann, Arved
9de39ec9-1b1f-4db1-b906-f20375e83416
Calder, Philip
1797e54f-378e-4dcb-80a4-3e30018f07a6
Troesch, Barbara
e2698d50-a676-4e81-a868-f62395a30384
Eggersdorfer, Manfred
20c4f6f6-0995-4309-be7a-578b2615ed4b
Laviano, Alessandro
d94c00e4-d683-4245-9b35-ca6dbb39c725
Rolland, Yves
dff62e4a-f4a0-48e3-afd5-d4b79d036449
Smith, A. David
f43e89e3-8860-4a3c-bc5c-9a8d3ee1fc9d
Warnke, Ines
bc0170de-d9be-41bb-93e2-4e88ce94bb55
Weimann, Arved
9de39ec9-1b1f-4db1-b906-f20375e83416
Calder, Philip
1797e54f-378e-4dcb-80a4-3e30018f07a6

Troesch, Barbara, Eggersdorfer, Manfred, Laviano, Alessandro, Rolland, Yves, Smith, A. David, Warnke, Ines, Weimann, Arved and Calder, Philip (2020) Expert opinion on benefits of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) in aging and clinical nutrition. Nutrients, 12 (9), 1-25, [2555]. (doi:10.3390/nu12092555).

Record type: Review

Abstract

Life expectancy is increasing and so is the prevalence of age-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Consequently, older people and patients present with multi-morbidities and more complex needs, putting significant pressure on healthcare systems. Effective nutrition interventions could be an important tool to address patient needs, improve clinical outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Inflammation plays a central role in NCDs, so targeting it is relevant to disease prevention and treatment. The long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 LCPUFAs) docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are known to reduce inflammation and promote its resolution, suggesting a beneficial role in various therapeutic areas. An expert group reviewed the data on omega-3 LCPUFAs in specific patient populations and medical conditions. Evidence for benefits in cognitive health, age- and disease-related decline in muscle mass, cancer treatment, surgical patients and critical illness was identified. Use of DHA and EPA in some conditions is already included in some relevant guidelines. However, it is important to note that data on the effects of omega-3 LCPUFAs are still inconsistent in many areas (e.g., cognitive decline) due to a range of factors that vary amongst the trials performed to date; these factors include dose, timing and duration; baseline omega-3 LCPUFA status; and intake of other nutrients. Well-designed intervention studies are required to optimize the effects of DHA and EPA in specific patient populations and to develop more personalized strategies for their use.

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nutrients-887583 (1) Accepted version - Accepted Manuscript
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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 21 August 2020
e-pub ahead of print date: 24 August 2020
Published date: 24 August 2020
Additional Information: Publisher Copyright: © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, Cancer cachexia, Clinical nutrition, DHA and EPA, Frailty, Immunonutrition, Inflammation, Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, Oral nutritional supplementation, Sarcopenia

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 443363
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/443363
ISSN: 2072-6643
PURE UUID: c49f798a-a91e-45c2-a4c2-fe661c67ce92
ORCID for Philip Calder: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6038-710X

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Date deposited: 21 Aug 2020 16:30
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 05:51

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Contributors

Author: Barbara Troesch
Author: Manfred Eggersdorfer
Author: Alessandro Laviano
Author: Yves Rolland
Author: A. David Smith
Author: Ines Warnke
Author: Arved Weimann
Author: Philip Calder ORCID iD

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