Plasma Eicosapentaenoic Acid Is Associated with Muscle Strength and Muscle Damage after Strenuous Exercise

Abstract

Background: Although the ingestion of total omega–3 fatty acids (omega–3) is positively related with muscular strength in older persons, little is known about the effect of omega–3 plasma levels on muscular function before and after exercise in young men. Moreover, omega–3 supplementation has a positive role in exercise-induced acute muscle damage. This study investigated the relationship between plasma omega–3 in the blood and promotion and preservation of muscle strength after eccentric contractions (ECCs) in young men. Methods: Thirty-two healthy young men participated in this study. We assessed plasma omega–3 level and the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Twenty-six out of them exercised 60 ECCs at 100% MVC. We measured the MVC torque, flexibility before and immediately after exercise, 1–5 days post exercise. Results: The levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and EPA/arachidonic acid were positively associated with muscle strength (p < 0.05). Higher levels of omega–3 EPA and docosahexaenoic acid prevented the reduction in the MVC and limited joint flexibility after ECCs. Conclusions: The present study reveals that higher levels of EPA are important to promote muscle strength and preserve the strength loss after exercise.

Body Composition, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, and Vitamin D are Associated with Army Combat Fitness Test Performance

“…However, after adjustment for body composition, the effect of EPA on 3DL, SPT, and LTK was attenuated, while the effect on PLK remained. Every 0.1% increase in EPA was associated with a substantially longer PLK hold of ~18 s. While the majority of studies exploring the relationship between LC n-3 PUFAs and performance tend to be in older populations, two recent investigations in young adults and athletes largely mirror the results noted in our study [ 15 , 24 ]. Using baseline maximal voluntary contraction of the elbow flexors, Ochi et al [ 24 ] found that plasma EPA, but not DHA, was associated with strength in 32 young males.…”

“…Additionally, studies monitoring the physiological impact of intense military and athlete training have shown that O3i and VITD status significantly decreases from pre- to post-training [ 18–20 ]. Incidentally, blood levels of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA), EPA and DHA, and VITD have been shown to be powerful modulators of skeletal muscle physiology [ 21 , 22 ] and are positively associated with muscular performance in healthy adults and athletes [ 15 , 23 , 24 ]. This is especially relevant for Army personnel transitioning from an endurance-based test (APFT) to a test that includes other combat-relevant metrics such as strength, power, speed, and agility (ACFT).…”

The Importance of Lipidomic Approach for Mapping and Exploring the Molecular Networks Underlying Physical Exercise: A Systematic Review

“…On the contrary, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) including arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and decosahexaenoic acid (DHA) rapidly increased within 2 min in response to exercise. These alterations in long-chain PUFA were consistent with a trigger of pro-and anti-inflammatory pathways [100,101].…”

The Impact of Long-Chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation on Body Composition, Strength, and Power in Collegiate Athletes

“…Our results align with recent studies showing that upper body strength was associated with plasma and whole blood EPA and EPA:AA. 16,22 In the FO group, CMJ height increased by 2.2%, while CMJ decreased by 1.1% in the PL group. Notably, the difference was not significant from PRE to POST or between groups, despite the magnitude being indictive of a moderate effect (ES = 0.54).…”

“…21 Additionally, LC n-3 depletion may also have negative implications for physical performance in athletes, especially since whole blood and plasma EPA and the EPA:AA ratio are correlated with strength. 16,22 Our recent crosssectional analysis found that handgrip strength was associated with whole blood EPA and the EPA:AA ratio and negatively correlated with the n-6:n-3 ratio in athletes. 16 Hence, LC n-3 supplementation, through the incorporation of EPA and DHA into the skeletal muscle phospholipid and at the expense of n-6 fatty acids, may enhance strength, power and promote lean body mass (LBM) accretion in athletes.…”