N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids do not affect cytokine response to strenuous exercise

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Immunology

Background:

• Strenuous exercise can trigger an acute-phase response, involving inflammatory markers.
• Fish oil, rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), is known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
• The impact of fish oil on exercise-induced inflammation requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if fish oil supplementation modulates the acute-phase response to strenuous exercise.
• To assess the effect of n-3 PUFA on inflammatory markers post-marathon.
• To evaluate changes in blood mononuclear cell fatty acid composition.

Main Methods:

• Twenty male runners were randomized into fish oil (6.0 g/day, 3.6 g n-3 PUFA for 6 wk) or control groups.
• Blood samples were collected pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 1.5 and 3 hours post-exercise.
• Analyzed fatty acid composition in blood mononuclear cells (BMNC) and plasma cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-6, TGF-β1, IL-1ra).

Main Results:

• Fish oil supplementation altered BMNC fatty acid composition, increasing n-3 PUFA and decreasing arachidonic acid.
• Plasma levels of TNF-α, IL-6, TGF-β1, and IL-1ra increased significantly post-exercise in both groups.
• No significant differences in cytokine levels, leucocytes, or creatine kinase were observed between the fish oil and control groups.

Conclusions:

• Six weeks of fish oil supplementation did not influence the acute-phase response to strenuous exercise.
• The incorporation of n-3 PUFA did not attenuate exercise-induced inflammation or muscle damage markers.
• Fish oil supplementation may not be effective in mitigating the inflammatory response to endurance events.