HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

DHA Supports Heart Rate During Exercise

Study 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 6g/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 10km/h were assessed. Two treadmill runs (T1 and T2) to exhaustion, separated by 5min, were then performed at the average speed for a recent 2200m 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+/-0.09mmoll(-1), SO 0.08+/-0.05mmoll(-1), P<0.001), diastolic BP (FO 1.3+/-1.3mmHg, SO 6.8+/-1.7mmHg; P=0.04) and HR during submaximal exercise (FO -7.8+/-2.3beatsmin(-1), SO -1.9+/-1.9beatsmin(-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.

Study Information

Buckley JD, Burgess S, Murphy KJ, Howe PR.
DHA-rich fish oil lowers heart rate during submaximal exercise in elite Australian Rules footballers.
J Sci Med Sport.
2008 June
University of South Australia, Australia.