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Acute fish oil supplementation modulates the inflammatory response after strenuous exercise in obese men: A
Alessandra Peres1, Gilson P Dorneles2, Maria Carolina R Boeira3
1Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS 90050-170, Brazil; Research Center, Methodist University Center IPA, Porto Alegre, RS 90420-060, Brazil.
Aim:
To evaluate the effects of acute fish oil supplementation (FOS) in DNA damage, lymphocyte phenotype and cytokines production after strenuous exercise in obese individuals.
Methods:
Sixteen sedentary obese (BMI >30.0 to <35.0 kg/m²) men performed two sessions of exhaustive exercise and consumed 2000 mg of either placebo or fish oil one hour before the exercise session; trials were separated by 14 days. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected pre, immediately after and 1 h after both exercise sessions and stimulated in vitro with 2% phytohemagglutinin for cytokines secretion (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α). Analysis of DNA damage index on total lymphocytes and the peripheral frequency of T helper CD4+ cells, T cytotoxic CD8+ cells, and CD19+ B cells were also performed.
Results:
FOS prevented the increase in serum cortisol levels and the production of TNF-α and IL-8 after strenuous exercise. The DNA damage index decreased 1 h after exercise in FOS trial. Moreover, a lymphocytosis, i.e. increases in the frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was observed immediately after exercise bout in both trials. Moreover, FOS prevented the decrease in CD8+ T cells below to baseline value 1 h after strenuous exercise.
Conclusion:
Acute supplementation with fish oil attenuates the proinflammatory cytokine response and diminished the DNA damage after strenuous exercise in obese individuals, suggesting a possible protective effect against the exacerbation of systemic damage induced by exhaustive exercise in obese individuals.
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