A recent study evaluated the effect of omega-3 fats on the rate of muscle protein synthesis in older adults. Omega-3's are known to stimulate protein anabolism in animals.
The study examined 16 healthy, older adults. They were randomly assigned to receive either omega-3 fats or corn oil for 8 weeks. Supplementation with corn oil had no effect on muscle protein synthesis, but the omega-3's were found to increase the rate.
According to the study, in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition:
"Omega-3 fatty acids stimulate muscle protein synthesis in older adults and may be useful for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia."