The Study
Skeletal muscle protein turnover and mitochondrial responses to omega-3 fatty acid supplementation: an update
This study is like a summary of lots of different experiments done by other scientists, but it didn’t do any new experiments itself. It says omega-3s 'might' help muscles, but some studies say yes and others say no — so we can’t be sure.
Analysis score
Maximum 5 for a narrative review.
Where the score came from
Fish oil has omega-3 fats that might help muscles stay strong by calming body inflammation and helping energy factories in cells work better.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 52 / 100
Quality score
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of cohort studies. They sit above a single cohort study but below a single randomized trial, because the underlying evidence is still observational.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — even without exercise, omega-3s may help older or sick people keep more muscle, which can prevent frailty and falls.
- 2Studies show omega-3s can increase muscle mass and strength, but don't always make muscles grow faster after eating or exercising.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
Year
2026
Authors
Jack E Hayden, Colleen S Deane
Related Content
Claims (7)
Taking omega-3 supplements like EPA and DHA might help these fats get into your muscle and energy-producing parts of cells, which could help your muscles grow and work better—but studies in healthy people don’t always agree on whether it actually boosts muscle building.
Taking omega-3 supplements might help muscle health more in people who are losing muscle due to illness or aging than in healthy people, but it’s not certain how much better it is.
Taking omega-3 fatty acids might help reduce harmful stress in muscle cells, especially as we age or if we're sick, and this could help muscles stay stronger and work better — but this has only been seen in animal or lab studies so far.
Taking omega-3 supplements might help your muscles grow better when you eat protein or work out, especially if you're sick or have a medical condition—but it doesn't always work for healthy people.
Taking omega-3 fatty acids might help your muscle cells work better and stay healthier as you age or if you're inactive, but it doesn't reliably make your muscles grow or repair faster.
As we age, tiny amounts of ongoing body inflammation can weaken our muscle power and size, but taking omega-3 fatty acids—like those in fish oil—may help protect our muscles by calming down that inflammation and keeping our energy factories (mitochondria) working well.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.