title: Effects of the fish-oil supplementation on the immune and inflammatory responses in elite swimmers.
abstract: The effect of fish-oil supplementation (FO-S) on the immune responses of elite swimmers was investigated. In a randomized placebo-controlled trial, swimmers received either fish-oil capsules (n=10) containing long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (FA) of n-3 (LCPUFA n-3) or placebo capsules (n=10), both for 6 weeks. Plasma FA, immunological markers, insulin and cortisol were evaluated. The FO-S resulted in an increase in LCPUFA n-3 and a decrease in arachidonic n-6 FA in plasma and a reduction in the production of interferon-gamma by cultured cells. A reduction in the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha was observed in both groups. An increase in interleukin-2 production and no significant difference in interleukin-4 were also observed. FO-S was able to attenuate the exercise-induced increases in prostaglandin E2. Circulating concentrations of insulin did not change, while cortisol and glucose showed increase after the study period. These results suggest that FO-S influence exercise-associated immune responses in competitive swimmers.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nutrição da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Ciencias da Saude, Instituto de Nutricao Bloco J-2 andar, 21 941 590 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Priscila M M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Beatriz G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Marcelo T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Bozza
authors.forename: Luiz Fernando B
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Costa Rosa
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Tavares do Carmo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils; D007328:Insulin; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D006854:Hydrocortisone