Combining fish-oil supplements with regular aerobic exercise improves body composition and cardiovascular disease risk factors.
BACKGROUND
Regular exercise and consuming long-chain n-3 fatty acids (FAs) from fish or fish oil can independently improve cardiovascular and metabolic health, but combining these lifestyle modifications may be more effective than either treatment alone.


OBJECTIVE
We examined the individual and combined effects of n-3 FA supplements and regular exercise on body composition and cardiovascular health.


METHODS
Overweight volunteers [body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)): >25] with high blood pressure, cholesterol, or triacylglycerols were randomly assigned to one of the following interventions: fish oil (FO), FO and exercise (FOX), sunflower oil (SO; control), or SO and exercise (SOX). Subjects consumed 6 g tuna FO/d ( approximately 1.9 g n-3 FA) or 6 g SO/d. The exercise groups walked 3 d/wk for 45 min at 75% age-predicted maximal heart rate. Plasma lipids, blood pressure, and arterial function were assessed at 0, 6, and 12 wk. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at 0 and 12 wk only.


RESULTS
FO supplementation lowered triacylglycerols, increased HDL cholesterol, and improved endothelium-dependent arterial vasodilation (P<0.05). Exercise improved arterial compliance (P<0.05). Both fish oil and exercise independently reduced body fat (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
FO supplements and regular exercise both reduce body fat and improve cardiovascular and metabolic health. Increasing intake of n-3 FAs could be a useful adjunct to exercise programs aimed at improving body composition and decreasing cardiovascular disease risk.
Hill
Alison M
AM
Nutritional Physiology Research Centre and the Australian Technology Network Centre for Metabolic Fitness, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.
Buckley
Jonathan D
JD
Murphy
Karen J
KJ
Howe
Peter R C
PR
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012307:Risk Factors; D000074242:Sunflower Oil; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D005395:Fish Oils; D010938:Plant Oils; D000074242:Sunflower Oil; D014280:Triglycerides