title: The effects of fish oil and isoflavones on delayed onset muscle soreness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fish oils (FO) have been shown to modulate the inflammatory response through alteration of the eicosanoid pathway. Isoflavones (ISO) appear to reduce the inflammatory pathway through their role as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) develops after intense exercise and has been associated with an inflammatory response. Therefore, we hypothesized that physical parameters associated with DOMS could be decreased via the modulation of the inflammatory response by supplementing subjects with either FO or ISO.
  
  
  METHODS
  22 subjects were recruited and randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: FO (1.8 g of omega-3 fatty acids x d(-1)), ISO (120 mg soy isolate x d(-1)), or placebo (PL) (Western fat blend and/or wheat flour). All treatment groups received 100-IU vitamin E x d(-1) to minimize lipid peroxidation of more highly unsaturated fatty acids. Subjects were supplemented 30 d before the exercise and during the week of testing and were instructed to refrain from unusual exercise. DOMS was induced by 50 maximal isokinetic eccentric elbow flexion contractions. Strength parameters, pain, arm circumference, and relaxed arm angle (RANG) were measured at 48, 72, and 168 h post exercise. Cortisol, creatine kinase (CK), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha), malondialdehyde (MDA), and serum iron were measured before supplementation, after supplementation, and post exercise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant decreases were observed in RANG and strength 48 h postexercise among all groups, and there were significant increases in pain and arm circumference. There were no significant changes among all groups from baseline at 168 h (7 d) post exercise. There were no significant treatment effects between groups for the physical parameters or for cortisol, CK, IL-6, TNFalpha, MDA, or serum iron.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate FO or ISO, at the doses supplemented, were not effective in ameliorating DOMS with the above-cited protocol.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Nutrition, College of Health Sciences, Department of Kinesiology & Health Promotion, University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lenn
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uhl
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mattacola
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boissonneault
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yates
authors.forename: Wissam
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Geza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bruckner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009220:Myositis / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D005395:Fish Oils; D007529:Isoflavones; C040641:genistin; D003402:Creatine Kinase