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Study Title:

DHA Intake Boosts IGF-1 Levels in Teenage Boys

Study Abstract

Background:Animal studies indicate that n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) increase bone formation. No studies have examined this in growing humans. This study investigated if bone mass and markers of bone formation and growth were 1) associated with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-status and 2) affected by fish oil supplementation, in adolescent boys.

Methods:Seventy-eight healthy, slightly overweight 13-15 year-old boys were randomly assigned to breads with DHA-rich fish oil (1.1 g/day n-3 LCPUFA) or control for 16 weeks. Whole-body bone mineral content (BMC), bone area (BA), bone mineral density (BMD), plasma osteocalcin, and growth factors were measured at week-0 and week-16, as well as diet, physical activity, and n-3 LCPUFA status in erythrocytes.

Results:Fish oil strongly increased DHA-status (P=0.0001). No associations were found between DHA-status and BMC, BA, BMD, or the markers of bone formation and growth at baseline. Furthermore, the fish oil intervention did not affect any of the outcomes, compared to control. However, dose-response analyses revealed a positive association between changes in DHA-status and plasma IGF-1 during intervention (Β=0.24, P=0.03, n=78).

Conclusions:DHA-status and fish oil supplementation were not associated with bone mass or markers of bone formation in adolescent boys, but IGF-1 increased with DHA-status.

Study Information

Damsgaard CT, Mølgaard C, Matthiessen J, Gyldenløve SN, Lauritzen L.
The effects of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on bone formation and growth factors in adolescent boys.
Pediatr Res.
2012 February
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Copenhagen, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.