Increased omega-3 fatty acid intake is inversely associated with sarcopenic obesity in women but not in men, based on the 2014–2018 korean national health and nutrition examination survey

Abstract

(1) Background: Omega-3 fatty acids (ω3FAs) are known to improve protein anabolism, increase the sensitivity to anabolic stimuli, decrease lipogenesis, and stimulate lipid oxidation. We aim to investigate whether ω3FAs are associated with the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity (SO). (2) Methods: Data were obtained from the 2014–2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The ratio of daily ω3FA intake to energy intake (ω3FA ratio) was categorized into four quartile groups. (3) Results: The prevalence of SO from Q1 to Q4 was 8.9%, 11.3%, 11.0%, and 9.8% respectively, in men and 17.4%, 14.0%, 13.9%, and 10.1% respectively, in women. The ω3FA ratio in individuals with and without SO were 1.0% and 0.9% in men (p-value = 0.271) respectively, and 0.8% and 1.0% in women (p-value = 0.017), respectively. Compared with Q1, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of Q2, Q3, and Q4 of ω3FA ratios were 1.563 (0.802–3.047), 1.246 (0.611–2.542), and 0.924 (0.458–1.864) respectively, in men and 0.663 (0.379–1.160), 0.640 (0.372–1.102), and 0.246 (0.113–0.534) respectively, in women, after fully adjusting for confounding factors. (4) Conclusions: The ω3FA ratio was significantly higher in older females without SO than in older females with SO. The ω3FA ratio was associated with the prevalence of SO in elderly females.