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Dietary long chain n‐3 PUFA attenuates musculoskeletal atrophy associated with disuse in mice
Author(s) -
Watkins Bruce A,
Jones Robert,
Li Yong,
Han Kevin
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a728-c
Subject(s) - osteopenia , muscle atrophy , hindlimb , atrophy , endocrinology , medicine , polyunsaturated fatty acid , femur , bone mineral , chemistry , osteoporosis , fatty acid , surgery , biochemistry
A lack of weight bearing initiates muscle atrophy and losses in bone density and muscle strength. Currently, the only approach for inhibiting muscle atrophy and osteopenia caused by disuse is exercise. We found that mixtures of n‐3 PUFA inhibit hindlimb suspension induced muscle and bone loss. Fifteen‐wk‐old male mice were fed n‐6 or n‐3 PUFA (DHA, EPA, DHA+EPA at 2:1) for 7 days, followed by 9 days of hindlimb suspension on half of the mice in each group (half were weight‐bearing). Mice continued on their respective diets during suspension. At the end, the loss in hindlimb bone BMD and BMC were lower in DHA fed mice compared to the n‐6 group. The decrease in muscle wt and fiber diameter was lower in mice fed DHA compared to the n‐6 diet. Femur ash wt/dry wt was lower in the n‐6 compared to DHA fed mice. Fatty acid composition of muscle and bone tissue in mice was consistent with the dietary treatments. EPA led to DHA accumulation in bone. Feeding DHA facilitated a greater decrease in AA compared to feeding EPA. An important outcome of this study was identifying differences between the type of n‐3 PUFA and musculoskeletal atrophy. In summary, DHA feeding prior and during unloading decreased muscle atrophy and osteopenia. These results have significant promise for reducing musculoskeletal loss during cancer, aging, spaceflight, casting, and inactivity.