Effect of DHA on plasma fatty acid availability and oxidative stress during training season and football exercise.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the effects of DHA supplementation on plasma oxidative balance and anti-inflammatory markers after training and acute exercise in football players.
Results Summary
DHA supplementation increased plasma DHA availability and PGE2 levels, indicating anti-inflammatory effects, but did not significantly alter oxidative damage biomarkers. The antioxidant system was sufficient to prevent oxidative damage induced by acute exercise.
Population
Fifteen male football players.
Effective Dosage
1.14 g per day.
Duration
Eight weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
diet supplemented with 1.14 g per day of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for eight weeks | increase | plasma DHA availability in non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and triglyceride fatty acids (TGFAs) | fifteen volunteer male football players | - | increased | #1 |
diet supplemented with 1.14 g per day of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for eight weeks | increase | polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) fraction of NEFAs | fifteen volunteer male football players | - | increased | #2 |
diet supplemented with 1.14 g per day of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for eight weeks | no change | biomarkers for oxidative balance in plasma | fifteen volunteer male football players | - | had no effects on | #3 |
Training season | increase | plasma protein markers of oxidative damage | fifteen volunteer male football players | - | increased | #4 |
Training season | increase | haemolysis degree | fifteen volunteer male football players | - | increased | #5 |
Training season | increase | antioxidant enzyme activities | fifteen volunteer male football players | - | increased | #6 |
Training season | no change | lipid oxidative damage | fifteen volunteer male football players | - | did not affect | #7 |
Training season | increase | circulating levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) | fifteen volunteer male football players | - | influenced | #8 |
DHA | increase | circulating levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) | fifteen volunteer male football players | - | influenced | #9 |
Acute exercise | no change | basal levels of plasma markers for oxidative and nitrosative damage of proteins and lipids | fifteen volunteer male football players | - | did not alter | #10 |
Acute exercise | no change | antioxidant enzyme activities | fifteen volunteer male football players | - | did not alter | #11 |
DHA-diet supplementation | increase | PGE2 in plasma after acute exercise | fifteen volunteer male football players | - | significantly increased | #12 |
DHA-diet supplementation | increase | prostaglandin PGE2 plasma | well-trained footballers | - | increased | #13 |
DHA-diet supplementation | decrease | inflammation after acute exercise | well-trained footballers | - | evidencing anti-inflammatory effects of DHA to control inflammation | #14 |
The aim was to determine the effects of a diet supplemented with 1.14 g per day of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for eight weeks on the plasma oxidative balance and anti-inflammatory markers after training and acute exercise. Fifteen volunteer male football players were randomly assigned to placebo or experimental and supplemented groups. Blood samples were taken under resting conditions at the beginning and after eight weeks of training under resting and post-exercise conditions. The experimental beverage increased the plasma DHA availability in non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and triglyceride fatty acids (TGFAs) and increased the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) fraction of NEFAs but had no effects on the biomarkers for oxidative balance in plasma. During training, plasma protein markers of oxidative damage, the haemolysis degree and the antioxidant enzyme activities increased, but did not affect lipid oxidative damage. Training season and DHA influenced the circulating levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Acute exercise did not alter the basal levels of plasma markers for oxidative and nitrosative damage of proteins and lipids, and the antioxidant enzyme activities, although DHA-diet supplementation significantly increased the PGE2 in plasma after acute exercise. In conclusion, the training season and acute exercise, but not the DHA diet supplementation, altered the pattern of plasma oxidative damage, as the antioxidant system proved sufficient to prevent the oxidative damage induced by the acute exercise in well-trained footballers. The DHA-diet supplementation increased the prostaglandin PGE2 plasma evidencing anti-inflammatory effects of DHA to control inflammation after acute exercise.