Abstract
Purpose:
To investigate the effects of 12 weeks 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:
26 amateur male long-distance runners aged ≥29 years supplemented omega-3 fatty acid capsules (OMEGA group, n = 14; 2234 mg of EPA and 916 mg of DHA daily) or medium chain triglycerides capsules as placebo (MCT group, n = 12; 4000 mg of MCT daily) during 12-week of endurance training. Before and after intervention, blood samples were collected for O3I assessment and an incremental test to exhaustion and 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 VO2peak was observed in the OMEGA group (from 53.6 ± 4.4 ml*kg-1*min-1 to 56.0 ± 3.7 ml*kg-1*min-1, P = 0.0219) without such change in MCT group (from 54.7 ± 6.8 ml*kg-1*min-1 to 56.4 ± 5.9 ml*kg-1*min-1, P = 0.1308). A positive correlation between the change in O3I and 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:
12 weeks of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation at a dose of 2234 mg of EPA and 916 mg of DHA daily during endurance training resulted in improvement of O3I and running economy and increased VO2peak without improvement in the 1500-m run trial time in amateur runners.
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