This article is part of the supplement: Proceedings of the Sixth International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) Conference and Expo
Poster presentation
Effect of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid on resting and exercise-induced inflammation and oxidative stress
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* Corresponding author: Richard Bloomer rbloomer@memphis.edu
Cardiorespiratory/Metabolic Laboratory, Department of Health and Sport Sciences, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2009, 6(Suppl 1):P3 doi:10.1186/1550-2783-6-S1-P3
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.jissn.com/content/6/S1/P3
| Published: | 31 July 2009 |
© 2009 Bloomer et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Background
The fish oils eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been reported to provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits at rest. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of EPA/DHA supplementation on resting and exercise-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in trained men.
Methods
14 men (26 ± 5 yrs) supplemented with 2224 mg EPA (MorEPA Mini; Minami Nutrition, Belgium)+2208 mg DHA (MorDHA Mini; Minami Nutrition, Belgium) and a placebo for 6 weeks using a random order, double blind cross-over design (with an 8 week washout period) prior to performing a 60 minute treadmill climb using a weighted backpack. Blood was collected before and at 0, 0.5, 24, and 48 hours post exercise and analyzed for C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), protein carbonyls (PC), oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL), malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and xanthine oxidase activity (XO). Pre (wk 0) and post (wk 6) blood samples were analyzed for EPA and DHA content.
Results
Treatment with EPA/DHA resulted in a significant increase in blood levels of both EPA (18 ± 2 μmol·L-1 vs. 143 ± 23 μmol·L-1; p < 0.0001) and DHA (67 ± 4 μmol·L-1 vs. 157 ± 13 μmol·L-1; p < 0.0001), while no differences were noted for placebo. Resting levels of CRP and TNF-α were lower with EPA/DHA compared to placebo (p < 0.05). Resting oxidative stress markers were not different (p > 0.05). There was a mild increase in oxidative stress in response to exercise (p < 0.05), however no interaction effects or condition effects were noted. A condition effect was noted for CRP and TNF-α, with lower values with the EPA/DHA condition (p < 0.05). However, no interaction or time effects were noted (p > 0.05).
Conclusion
EPA/DHA supplementation increases blood levels of these fatty acids and results in decreased resting levels of inflammatory biomarkers in trained men, but does not appear necessary for exercise-induced attenuation in either inflammation or oxidative stress in this population. This may be due to the finding that trained men exhibit a minimal increase in inflammation and oxidative stress in response to moderate duration (60 minute), non-eccentric biased exercise.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported in part by Minami Nutrition, Belgium.