Background & aims: Results from narrative reviews showed potential from omega-3 supplementation on lean body mass. In older adults, a previous meta-analysis showed significant results from omega-3 on lean body mass. This review aimed to investigate randomized clinical trials that evaluated the effects of omega-3 supplementation, compared to placebo, on lean body mass in humans.
Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in Pubmed, LILACS, SciELO, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, SPORTDiscus, and Cochrane Library. The authors assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane tool. Randomized clinical trials that evaluated the effects of omega-3 supplementation compared to placebo on lean body mass were included.
Results: In total, 11 studies were included, from which two found significant effects on lean body mass. In the meta-analysis, none of the results were significant.
Conclusions: Omega-3 supplementation had no significant effect on lean body mass compared to placebo.
Keywords: DHA; EPA; Fish oil; Lean mass; Muscle mass.
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