The Impact of Vitamin D and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Muscle Health, Physical Performance, and Sarcopenia Prevention – A Review of Studies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2025.40.59775Keywords
vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, physical performance, sarcopeniaAbstract
This review aims to assess the impact of vitamin D and omega-3 supplementation on muscle health, physical performance, and sarcopenia prevention. The analysis includes randomized controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, meta-analyses, observational studies, and narrative reviews. Vitamin D regulates calcium metabolism, myocyte proliferation, and muscle regeneration, with deficiency linked to weakened strength and increased fall risk. However, the effects on physical performance are inconclusive, depending on 25(OH)D levels, dosage, and supplementation duration. Omega-3 fatty acids demonstrate anti-inflammatory effects, supporting muscle regeneration and function, particularly with resistance training. Some studies show beneficial effects on isometric strength, but their impact on muscle mass is inconsistent. Sarcopenia prevention studies suggest that supplementation, combined with physical activity, may be effective, though evidence on muscle mass remains unclear. In conclusion, vitamin D and omega-3 supplementation may support muscle function, particularly in deficient individuals, but further research is needed to assess their impact on physical performance and sarcopenia prevention. Long-term studies on optimal dosages, intervention duration, and synergistic effects with physical activity are required.
References
Abiri, B., & Vafa, M. (2020). Vitamin D and muscle sarcopenia in aging. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 1260, 15–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0471-7_2
Agoncillo, M., Yu, J., & Gunton, J. E. (2023). The role of vitamin D in skeletal muscle repair and regeneration in animal models and humans: A systematic review. Nutrients, 15(20), 4377. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15204377
Bello, H. J., Caballero-García, A., Pérez-Valdecantos, D., Roche, E., Noriega, D. C., & Córdova-Martínez, A. (2021). Effects of vitamin D in post-exercise muscle recovery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients, 13(11), 4013. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13114013
Bislev, L. S., Grove‐Laugesen, D., & Rejnmark, L. (2021). Vitamin D and muscle health: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 36(9), 1721–1731. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.4412
Bollen, S. E., Bass, J. J., Fujita, S., Wilkinson, D. J., Hewison, M., & Atherton, P. J. (2022). The vitamin D/vitamin D receptor (VDR) axis in muscle atrophy and sarcopenia. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 17(1), 67. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-020-00347-8
Cannataro, R., Abrego-Guandique, D. M., Straface, N., & Cione, E. (2024). Omega-3 and sports: Focus on inflammation. Life, 14(10), 1315. https://doi.org/10.3390/life14101315
Chou, S. H., Cook, N. R., Kotler, G., Kim, E., Copeland, T., Lee, I. M., Cawthon, P. M., Buring, J. E., Manson, J. E., & LeBoff, M. S. (2024). Effects of supplemental vitamin D3, omega-3 fatty acids on physical performance measures in the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 109(4), e150. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgae150
Dalle, S., Van Roie, E., Hiroux, C., Vanmunster, M., Coudyzer, W., Suhr, F., Bogaerts, S., Van Thienen, R., & Koppo, K. (2021). Omega-3 supplementation improves isometric strength but not muscle anabolic and catabolic signaling in response to resistance exercise in healthy older adults. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 76(2), 209–218. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaa309
De la Puente Yagüe, M., Collado Yurrita, L., Ciudad Cabañas, M. J., & Cuadrado Cenzual, M. A. (2020). Role of vitamin D in athletes and their performance: Current concepts and new trends. Nutrients, 12(2), 579. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12020579
Ferguson, E. J., Seigel, J. W., & McGlory, C. (2021). Omega-3 fatty acids and human skeletal muscle. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care, 24(3), 193–200. https://doi.org/10.1097/MCO.0000000000000723
Fernández-Lázaro, D., Arribalzaga, S., Gutiérrez-Abejón, E., Azarbayjani, M. A., Mielgo-Ayuso, J., & Roche, E. (2024). Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on post-exercise inflammation, muscle damage, oxidative response, and sports performance in physically healthy adults: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Nutrients, 16(13), 2044. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16132044
Huang, Y. H., Chiu, W. C., Hsu, Y. P., Lo, Y. L., & Wang, Y. H. (2020). Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on muscle mass, muscle strength, and muscle performance among the elderly: A meta-analysis. Nutrients, 12(12), 3739. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12123739
Iolascon, G., Moretti, A., Paoletta, M., Liguori, S., & Di Munno, O. (2021). Muscle regeneration and function in sports: A focus on vitamin D. Medicina, 57(10), 1015. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57101015
Kyriakidou, Y., Wood, C., Ferrier, C., & Dolci, A. (2022). The effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on exercise-induced muscle damage. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 19(1), 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-020-00405-1
Safai Haeri, N., Perera, S., & Greenspan, S. L. (2023). The association of vitamin D with bone microarchitecture, muscle strength, and mobility performance in older women in long-term care. Bone, 171, 116867. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bone.2023.116867
Sutherland, J. P., Zhou, A., & Hyppönen, E. (2023). Muscle traits, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity: A vitamin D Mendelian randomization study. Nutrients, 15(12), 2703. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15122703
Therdyothin, A., Prokopidis, K., Galli, F., Witard, O. C., & Isanejad, M. (2025). The effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on muscle and whole-body protein synthesis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition Research, 115, nuae055. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuae055
Tseng, P. T., Zeng, B. Y., Zeng, B. S., Liao, Y. C., Stubbs, B., Kuo, J. S., Sun, C. K., Cheng, Y. S., & Chen, Y. W. (2023). Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in sarcopenia management: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ageing Research Reviews, 89, 102014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2023.102014
Uchida, Y., Tsujib, K., & Ochi, E. (2024). Effects of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation and resistance training on skeletal muscle. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 58, 66–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2024.03.019
Uchitomi, R., Oyabu, M., & Kamei, Y. (2020). Vitamin D and sarcopenia: Potential of vitamin D supplementation in sarcopenia prevention and treatment. Nutrients, 12(10), 3189. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12103189
Wyatt, P. B., Reiter, C. R., & Vap, A. R. (2024). Effects of vitamin D supplementation in elite athletes: A systematic review. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 12(1), 23259671231220371. https://doi.org/10.1177/23259671231220371
Żebrowska, A., et al. (2020). The effect of vitamin D supplementation on serum total 25(OH) levels and biochemical markers of skeletal muscles in runners. JISSN, 17(1), 47. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-020-00347-8
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Jakub Tomasz Wawrzyńców, Weronika Cyrkler, Jakub Robak , Stanisław Telega , Paweł Bollin , Urszula Szymczak, Wojciech Wiesław Lachór, Monika Barbara Solarz, Julia Piekarska, Justyna Maria Solarz
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 112
Number of citations: 0
