Effects of Omega-3 and Whey Protein Supplementation on Lean Mass in Older Adults (W-3 and Whey)

September 21, 2026 updated by: Erick Prado de Oliveira, Federal University of Uberlandia

Effects of Omega-3 and Whey Protein Supplementation on Lean Mass and Strength Gains in Older Adults Performing Resistance Exercise: A Randomized, Double-Blind and Placebo-Controlled Study

To evaluate the effect of omega-3 supplementation combined with whey protein intake on lean mass, muscle strength, metabolomic and lipidomic profiles, and biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in older adults undergoing resistance exercise. Participants will be randomized into the 4 groups. The placebo group will receive 5 g per day of sunflower oil and 38 g per day of maltodextrin. The omega 3 + placebo group will receive 5 g per day of fish oil and 38 g per day of maltodextrin. The whey protein + placebo group will receive 38g per day of whey and 5g per day of sunflower oil. The omega 3 + whey group will receive 5g per day of fish oil and 38g per day of protein. All will perform the same exercise protocol for 12 weeks.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
75

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Brazil
    • Minas Gerais
      • Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 38400-902
        • Federal University of Uberlandia

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

60 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Postmenopausal women (at least 1 year of menstrual interruption, self-reported);
  • To be able to practice strength exercises;
  • To be able to carry out supplementation;
  • Do not present physical, orthopedic or cardiovascular complications that prevent the performance of physical exercises;
  • No history of stroke or acute myocardial infarction;
  • Not being a smoker and/or alcoholic;
  • Do not perform hormone replacement therapy;
  • Do not use anti-inflammatory drugs;
  • To have normal kidney function;
  • To submit a medical certificate of health that proves that the individual is able to perform exercises.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Do not provide the necessary information for the development of the study;
  • Individuals with diseases previously diagnosed and undergoing treatment, such as type II diabetes mellitus, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular, and kidney and/or liver diseases.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Group

Group supplemented with maltodextrin (38g/day) and sunflower oil (5g/day). All groups will undergo a training program with strength exercises for 12 weeks
Dietary supplement: Placebo Group

The placebo group will receive 5 g per day of sunflower oil and 38 g per day of maltodextrin.
Experimental: Whey Protein + Placebo

Group supplemented with isolated whey protein (38g/day) and sunflower oil (5g/day). All groups will undergo a training program with strength exercises for 12 weeks.
Dietary supplement: Whey Protein + Placebo

The whey protein + placebo group will receive 38g per day of whey and 5g per day of sunflower oil.
Experimental: Omega 3 + Placebo

Group supplemented with omega-3 (5g/day) and maltodextrin (38g/day). All groups will undergo a training program with strength exercises for 12 weeks.
Dietary supplement: Omega 3 + Placebo

The omega 3 + placebo group will receive 5 g per day of fish oil and 38 g per day of maltodextrin.
Experimental: Omega 3 + Whey Protein

Group supplemented with omega-3 (5g/day) and whey protein (38g/day). All groups will undergo a training program with strength exercises for 12 weeks.
Dietary supplement: Omega 3 + Whey Protein

The omega 3 + whey group will receive 5g per day of fish oil and 38g per day of protein.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Changes in lean mass (kg) using ultrasound and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in postmenopausal women
Time Frame: up to 12 weeks
up to 12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Changes in strength (kg) using dynamometer in postmenopausal women
Time Frame: up to 12 weeks
up to 12 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Evaluation of oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers
Time Frame: up to 12 weeks

Oxidative stress biomarkers will be assessed in blood and saliva, whereas inflammatory biomarkers will be assessed in blood only. Blood and saliva samples will be collected before and after the intervention. After an overnight fast, 20 mL of blood will be collected into heparinized tubes. A portion of the blood will be used for whole-blood stimulation with or without 10 ng/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS; Escherichia coli O111) for 6 hours at 37°C in 5% CO₂. Following incubation, the supernatant will be collected for the assessment of inflammatory cytokines by ELISA. The remaining blood will be centrifuged at 4°C and 3,200 rpm for 10 minutes, aliquoted, and stored at -80°C until analysis of oxidative stress biomarkers.
up to 12 weeks
Metabolomics and lipidomics analyses
Time Frame: up to 12 weeks

For metabolomic analysis, 100 μL of serum will be extracted with spectroscopic-grade methanol, homogenized, centrifuged, concentrated under vacuum, reconstituted in methanol, and filtered through a 0.22-μm filter. For lipidomic analysis, 100 μL of serum will be extracted using dichloromethane and methanol. The organic phase will be collected, concentrated under vacuum at 40°C, reconstituted in dichloromethane, and transferred to analytical vials.

Metabolomic and lipidomic profiles will be analyzed using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Metabolites and lipids will be identified based on accurate mass, mass spectral data, and comparison with databases and published literature.
up to 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Federal University of Uberlandia

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 30, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 10, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 8, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 17, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 21, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 5.728.049

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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