title: Effects of DHA-rich fish oil supplementation on lymphocyte function before and after a marathon race.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of docosahexaenoic-(DHA)-rich fish oil (FO) supplementation on lymphocyte function before and after a marathon race.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one athletes participated in this study. Eight marathon runners were supplemented with 3 g of FO daily for 60 d (FO group), and 13 athletes were not supplemented (C group). The following measures of lymphocytes were taken before and after the marathon: cell proliferation, cytokine production (IL-2, IL-10, TNF-α, and IL-4), and signs of cell death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the C group, the marathon had no effect on lymphocyte proliferation, DNA fragmentation, or mitochondrial membrane polarization; however, the marathon increased phosphatidylserine externalization (by 2.5-fold), induced a loss of plasma membrane integrity (by 20%), and decreased IL-2, TNF-α, and IL-10 production (by 55%, 95%, and 50%, respectively). FO supplementation did not prevent lymphocyte death induced by the marathon, as indicated by cell viability, DNA fragmentation, and phosphatidylserine externalization. However, FO supplementation increased lymphocyte proliferation before and after the marathon, and before the race, FO supplementation decreased IL-2, TNF-α, and IL-10 production in concanavalin-A-stimulated lymphocytes (by 55%, 95%, and 58%, respectively) compared with cells from the C group. The production of cytokines was not altered before or after the race in the FO group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DHA-rich FO supplementation increased lymphocyte proliferation and prevented a decrease in cytokine production, but it did not prevent lymphocyte death induced by participation in the marathon. Overall, DHA rich-FO supplementation has beneficial effects in preventing some of the changes in lymphocyte function induced by marathon participation.
authors.affiliation: Inst. of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, Cruzeiro do Sul University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vinicius Coneglian
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Adriana Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Levada-Pires
authors.forename: Sâmia Rocha
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Tânia Cristina
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Pithon-Curi
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Curi
authors.forename: Maria Fernanda
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Cury-Boaventura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000187:drug effects; D010718:Phosphatidylserines / Q000378:metabolism; D012420:Running; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005395:Fish Oils; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids