DHA-rich fish oil lowers heart rate during submaximal exercise in elite Australian Rules footballers

• Published in: Journal of science and medicine in sport Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. 503 - 507
• Main Authors: Buckley, Jonathan D, Burgess, Shane, Murphy, Karen J, Howe, Peter R.C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2009; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Athletes; Australian football; Blood pressure; Cardiovascular disease; Chromatography; Dietary Supplements; Docosahexaenoic acid; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Double-Blind Method; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Exercise Test; Fatty acids; Fish oils; Fitness equipment; Fitness training programs; Football - physiology; Heart Rate; Helianthus; Humans; Matched-Pair Analysis; Omega-3 fatty acids; Physical Endurance; Physical fitness; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Sports Medicine; Studies; Triglycerides; Young Adult; Australia; United States > US; Japan; Triglycerides; Blood pressure; Docosahexaenoic acid; Omega-3 fatty acids
• ISSN: 1440-2440; 1878-1861
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2008.01.011

Abstract Omega-3 fatty acids (n-3) can improve cardiovascular (CV) function. This study examined the effects of n-3 on endurance performance, recovery and CV risk factors in elite Australian Rules football players. 25 players were randomised, double-blind, to 6 g/day of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich fish oil (FO; n = 12) or sunflower oil (SO; n = 13) during 5 weeks of training. At baseline erythrocyte n-3 content, resting blood pressure (BP), fasting serum triglycerides (TG) and heart rate (HR) during treadmill running at 10 km/h were assessed. Two treadmill runs (T1 and T2) to exhaustion, separated by 5 min, were then performed at the average speed for a recent 2200 m time-trial. After 5 weeks, erythrocyte n-3 increased (FO 3.8 ± 0.6%, SO 0.6 ± 0.3%; P < 0.001) while TG (FO −0.32 ± 0.09 mmol l−1 , SO 0.08 ± 0.05 mmol l−1 ; P < 0.001), diastolic BP (FO 1.3 ± 1.3 mmHg, SO 6.8 ± 1.7 mmHg; P = 0.04) and HR during submaximal exercise (FO −7.8 ± 2.3 beats min−1 , SO −1.9 ± 1.9 beats min−1 ; P = 0.03) decreased in FO compared with SO. Time to exhaustion (TTE) during T1 increased by Week 5 (FO 10.2 ± 2.2%, SO 17.3 ± 4.3%; P < 0.001 for time). Recovery (TTE for T2 as % T1) decreased in both groups (FO, −3.4 ± 4.5%, SO −8.8 ± 3.9%; P = 0.05 for time). We conclude that 5 weeks of supplementation with FO improved CV function and reduced CV risk factors, but did not improve endurance performance or recovery in elite Australian Rules footballers.