Q: My father is in his 80s, and I have noticed his weight decline. In searching the literature, it seems that TNF may be a contributing factor to my father's weight loss. Would ultra-refined fish oil be beneficial in helping him stabilize or increase his weight? Do you have any other nutritional guidelines that would be helpful in this situation?
A: Weight loss in the elderly is usually due to loss of muscle mass. The usual suspect is tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Ultra-refined fish oil at 5 grams of EPA and DHA per day will reduce the levels of TNF. He should follow the Zone Diet to ensure that he is getting adequate protein to rebuild the lost muscle mass.