Fish oil supplementation reduces markers of oxidative stress but not muscle soreness after eccentric exercise.
Due to the potential anti-inflammatory properties of fish-derived long chain n-3 fatty acids, it has been suggested that athletes should regularly consume fish oils-although evidence in support of this recommendation is not clear. While fish oils can positively modulate immune function, it remains possible that, due to their high number of double bonds, there may be concurrent increases in lipid peroxidation. The current study aims to investigate the effect of fish oil supplementation on exercise-induced markers of oxidative stress and muscle damage. Twenty males underwent a 6-week double-blind randomized placebo-controlled supplementation trial involving two groups (fish oil or placebo). After supplementation, participants undertook 200 repetitions of eccentric knee contractions. Blood samples were taken presupplementation, postsupplementation, immediately, 24, 48, and 72 hr postexercise and muscle soreness/maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) assessed. There were no differences in creatine kinase, protein carbonyls, endogenous DNA damage, muscle soreness or MVC between groups. Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were lower (p < .05) at 48 and 72 hr post exercise and H2O2 stimulated DNA damage was lower (p < .05) immediately postexercise in the fish oil, compared with the control group. The current study demonstrates that fish oil supplementation reduces selected markers of oxidative stress after a single bout of eccentric exercise.
Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
Patrick
P
Gray
Andrew
A
Chappell
Alison McE
AM
Jenkinson
Frank
F
Thies
Stuart R
SR
Gray
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007717:Knee; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D063806:Myalgia / Q000188:drug therapy; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D050050:Protein Carbonylation; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide