title: 21 days of mammalian omega-3 fatty acid supplementation improves aspects of neuromuscular function and performance in male athletes compared to olive oil placebo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (N-3) are essential nutrients for human health and integral components of neural tissues. There is evidence that N-3 supplementation may benefit exercise performance, however, no study has investigated the ergogenic potential of N-3 supplementation. Our objective was to determine the effect of short-term N-3 supplementation on neuromuscular-function and physical-performance in well-trained athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male athletes (n = 30), 25 years (SD 4.6), training 17 h(.)wk(-1) (SD 5) completed this randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-design study. At baseline a blood sample was collected, maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVC) with electromyography (EMG) recordings were measured, and participants underwent various performance tests including a Wingate test and 250 kJ time trial (TT) followed by repeated MVC and EMG measurement. Participants were then randomly assigned to receive N-3 (5 ml seal oil, 375 mg EPA, 230 mg DPA, 510 mg DHA) or placebo (5 ml olive oil) for 21-days after which baseline testing was repeated. The magnitude-based inference approach was used to estimate the probability that N-3 had a beneficial effect on neuromuscular-function and performance of at least ±1%. Data are shown as mean ± 90% confidence-interval.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma EPA was higher on N-3 than placebo (p = 0.004) but the increases in DPA and DHA were not significant (p = 0.087, p = 0.058). N-3 supplementation had an unclear effect on MVC force (4.1 ± 6.6%) but increased vastus lateralis EMG by 20 ± 18% vs placebo (very likely beneficial). N-3 supplementation reduced Wingate percent power drop by 4.76 ± 3.4 % vs placebo (very likely beneficial), but the difference in TT performance was unclear (-1.9 ± 4.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicates N-3 PUFA supplementation improved peripheral neuromuscular function and aspects of fatigue with an unclear effect on central neuromuscular function. Clinical trial registration NCT0201433.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 150 College St., M5S 3E2 Toronto, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: Evan J H
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, University of Toronto, 100 Devonshire Place, M5S 2C9 Toronto, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Radonic
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 150 College St., M5S 3E2 Toronto, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: Thomas M S
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Wolever
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, University of Toronto, 100 Devonshire Place, M5S 2C9 Toronto, Ontario Canada ; Department of Physiology and Experimental Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, M5G 1X8 Toronto, Ontario Canada.
authors.forename: Greg D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000069463:Olive Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000069463:Olive Oil; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
keywords: Adaptations to training; Fat supplementation; Neuromuscular function; Omega-3 fatty acids; Performance