Docosahexaenoic acid‐supplementation prior to fasting prevents muscle atrophy in mice

Abstract Background: Muscle wasting prevails in numerous diseases (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular and kidney diseases, COPD,…) and increases healthcare costs. A major clinical issue is to devise new strategies preventing muscle wasting. We hypothesized that 8‐week docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation prior to fasting may preserve muscle mass in vivo. Methods: Six‐week‐old C57BL/6 mice were fed a DHA‐enriched or a control diet for 8 weeks and then fasted for 48 h. Results: Feeding mice a DHA‐enriched diet prior to fasting elevated muscle