Omega-3 fatty acids rich in DHA might be beneficial to cardiometabolic health factors, body composition, and BMI, especially so when used in combination with resistance training exercise, according to a new study published in Nutrients.
 
In the study, researchers recruited overweight/obese postmenopausal women between the ages of 55 and 70 years, who were randomly allocated to one of four experimental groups. There were two placebo groups, one of which took part in a supervised resistance training program for 16 weeks. The other two groups were administered a DHA-rich omega-3 supplement, with one group taking part in a resistance training program for 16 weeks, and the other with no supervised exercise training. In total, the study recruited 124 participants.
 
“Menopause is a critical stage in the physiological process of aging among women, with final menstrual period being a marker of aging and health, and age at menopause influencing risk for all-cause mortality,” the authors of the study wrote. “During menopause, redistribution of fat mass from gluteo-femoral depots towards the visceral cavity, alongside with muscle and bone mass loss, give rise to a constellation of unfavorable metabolic conditions such as insulin resistance, unhealthy lipid profiles, abnormal glucose metabolism and decreased metabolic rate.”
 
Resistance training programs have been a primary treatment of these postmenopause-associated conditions, the authors wrote, largely due to an enhanced capacity for muscle protein synthesis. Recently, studies have evidenced that omega-3 supplements containing both EPA and DHA could enhance muscle protein synthesis in combination with exercise. Furthermore, DHA’s primary endpoint, lowering triglycerides, could also play a role in metabolic health following menopause.
 
Both at baseline and throughout the course of the study, the researchers analyzed body composition, BMI, blood pressure, serum glucose, and serum lipid biomarkers. While all groups exhibited a moderate reduction in body weight and fat mass, those who engaged in resistance training had better bone mineral content, increased upper limb lean mass, decreased lower limb fat mass, and increased muscle strength and quality compared to non-resistance training groups. DHA-rich supplementation was linked to significantly lower diastolic blood pressure and circulating triglycerides, as well as increased muscle quality in lower limbs. No synergistic effects were observed for DHA supplementation and resistance training in combination, meaning that DHA supplementation had its own unique, independent benefits on the study participants.