title: Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Vitamin D in Immobilisation: Part B- Modulation of Muscle Functional, Vascular and Activation Profiles.
abstract: This study set out to determine whether two potential protein-sparing modulators (eicosapentaenoic acid and vitamin D) would modulate the anticipated muscle functional and related blood vessels function deleterious effects of immobilisation.
  
  
  
  The study used a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled design.
  
  
  
  The study took part in a laboratory setting.
  
  
  
  Twenty-four male and female healthy participants, aged 23.0±5.8 years.
  
  
  
  The non-dominant arm was immobilised in a sling for a period of nine waking hours a day over two continuous weeks. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: placebo (n=8, Lecithin, 2400 mg daily), omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids (n=8, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA); 1770 mg, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); 390 mg, daily) or vitamin D (n=8, 1,000 IU daily).
  
  
  
  Isometric and isokinetic torque, antagonist muscle co-contraction (activation profile), muscle fatigability indices, and arterial resting blood flow were measured before, at the end of the immobilisation period, and two weeks after re-mobilisation.
  
  
  
  Muscle elbow flexion and extension isometric and isokinetic torque decreased significantly with limb immobilisation in the placebo group (P<0.05). Despite no significant effect of supplementation, ω-3 and vitamin D supplementation showed trends (P>0.05) towards attenuating the decreases observed in the placebo group. There was no significant change in muscle fatigue parameters or co-contraction values with immobilisation and no effect of supplementation group (P>0.05). Similarly, this immobilisation model had no impact on the assessed blood flow characteristics. All parameters had returned to baseline values at the re-mobilisation phase of the study.
  
  
  
  Overall, at the current doses, neither ω-3 nor vitamin D supplementation significantly attenuated declines in torque associated with immobilisation. It would appear that muscle function (described here in Part B) might not be as useful a marker of the effectiveness of a supplement against the impact of immobilisation compared to tissue composition changes (described in Part A).
authors.affiliation: Gladys Onambele-Pearson, Health, Exercise and Active Living Research Centre, Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Crewe Green Road, Crewe, CW1 5DU, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 (0) 161 247 5594; Email: g.pearson@mmu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Bostock
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Winwood
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: McEwan
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Onambélé
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014807:Vitamin D; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid