Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Feb 1;55(2):216-224.
doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003038. Epub 2022 Sep 27.

Effects of 12 Wk of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation in Long-Distance Runners

Maja Tomczyk  1 , Zbigniew Jost  1 , Maciej Chroboczek  2 , Robert Urbański  3 , Philip C Calder, Helena L Fisk  4 , Mateusz Sprengel, Jędrzej Antosiewicz  5
Affiliations

Effects of 12 Wk of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation in Long-Distance Runners

Maja Tomczyk et al. Med Sci Sports Exerc. .

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of 12 wk of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation during endurance training on omega-3 index (O3I) and indicators of running performance in amateur long-distance runners.

Methods: Twenty-six amateur male long-distance runners ≥29 yr old supplemented omega-3 fatty acid capsules (OMEGA group, n = 14; 2234 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid and 916 mg of docosahexaenoic acid daily) or medium-chain triglycerides capsules as placebo (medium-chain triglyceride [MCT] group, n = 12; 4000 mg of MCT daily) during 12 wk of endurance training. Before and after intervention, blood samples were collected for O3I assessment, and an incremental test to exhaustion and a 1500-m run trial were performed.

Results: O3I was significantly increased in the OMEGA group (from 5.8% to 11.6%, P < 0.0001). A significant increase in V̇O 2peak was observed in the OMEGA group (from 53.6 ± 4.4 to 56.0 ± 3.7 mL·kg -1 ⋅min -1 , P = 0.0219) without such change in MCT group (from 54.7 ± 6.8 to 56.4 ± 5.9 mL·kg -1 ⋅min -1 , P = 0.1308). A positive correlation between the change in O3I and the change in running economy was observed when data of participants from both groups were combined (-0.1808 ± 1.917, P = 0.0020), without such an effect in OMEGA group alone ( P = 0.1741). No effect of omega-3 supplementation on 1500-m run results was observed.

Conclusions: Twelve weeks of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation at a dose of 2234 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid and 916 mg of docosahexaenoic acid daily during endurance training resulted in the improvement of O3I and running economy and increased V̇O 2peak without improvement in the 1500-m run trial time in amateur runners.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
General experimental design.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Flow of participants through the study.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Effect of supplementation with omega-3 PUFA or MCT on individual values of O3I before and after the 12-wk intervention. *P < 0.0001.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Effect of supplementation with omega-3 PUFA or MCT on erythrocyte EPA (A) and DHA (B) before and after the 12-wk intervention and change from baseline in EPA (C) and DHA (D) compared between the two groups. Data are expressed as mean. Error bars indicate ± SD, *P < 0.0001.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Effect of training and supplementation on peak oxygen consumption (A) (mL·kg−1⋅min−1) before and after the 12-wk intervention, change in peak oxygen consumption (B) (mL·kg−1⋅min−1) in the two groups over the 12-wk intervention, oxygen utilization (C) (mL·kg−1⋅min−1) during submaximal treadmill running at 12 km·h−1 before and after the 12-wk intervention, change in oxygen utilization (D) (mL·kg−1⋅min−1) in the two groups over the 12-wk intervention. Data are expressed as mean. Error bars indicate ± SD, *P < 0.05.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Correlation between O3I and oxygen cost of submaximal running when: OMEGA and MCT groups were combined before and after the 12-wk intervention (A). B. Results postintervention minus preintervention (Δ) in OMEGA and MCT groups were combined.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Baker EJ, Miles EA, Burdge GC, Yaqoob P, Calder PC. Metabolism and functional effects of plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids in humans. Prog Lipid Res. 2016;64:30–56. - PubMed
    1. Calder PC. Very long chain omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids and human health. Eur J Lipid Sci Technol. 2014;116(10):1280–300.
    1. Heileson JL Elliott A Buzzard JA, et al. A cross-sectional analysis of whole blood long-chain ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and its relationship with dietary intake, body composition, and measures of strength and power in collegiate athletes. J Am Nutr Assoc. 2023;42(1):94–100. - PubMed
    1. Davis J-K, Freese EC, Wolfe AS, Basham SA, Stein KMW. Evaluation of omega-3 status in professional basketball players. J Strength Cond Res. 2021;35(7):1794–9. - PubMed
    1. Harris WS, Von Schacky C. The omega-3 index: a new risk factor for death from coronary heart disease? Prev Med. 2004;39(1):212–20. - PubMed

Publication types