The present disclosure relates to a furan fatty acid, or a furan fatty acid-containing compound, for its use for preventing and/or treating a loss in muscle mass in a human or animal subject. It also pertains to a non-therapeutic use of a furan fatty acid, or of a furan fatty acid-containing compound for maintaining or increasing muscle mass in a subject in need thereof, in particular in a subject selected from a malnourished subject, an elderly subject, in particular a malnourished elderly subject, and a subject engaged in strenuous exercise.