Sports: Omega-3s boost cyclists' physical performance
Cycling: Omega-3 Increase Athletes' Performance
In professional cyclists, supplementation with omega-3 appears to increase nitric oxide concentrations by about 8 micromoles per liter of blood, enhancing blood flow and thus improving athletes’ physical performance.
This is reported in a new study conducted by scientists from the Academy of Physical Education in Katowice and the University of Silesia (Poland). The research results were published in the journal European Journal of Sport Science.
Omega-3 and Sport
The link between omega-3 and sports performance is not new: some recent studies have suggested that EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) can improve muscle health and enhance athletic performance.
Last year, researchers from the Universities of Tokyo, Toyama, and Josai (Japan) published a study in Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry showing that daily intake of fish oil rich in EPA was able to improve movement economy, an important parameter for assessing exercise endurance, thus reducing effort. In that case, a daily dose of 3.6 grams of fish oil was administered for eight weeks, resulting in increased EPA and DHA levels in red blood cells.
Omega-3 Supplements Promote Blood Flow
The new study involved 13 professional cyclists who, randomly, received omega-3 supplements (1.3 grams twice daily) for 3 weeks, or a placebo for the same period. Specific analyses showed significant differences in NO levels, both before and after supplementation, between those who took omega-3 and those who received placebo.
Nitric oxide is a gaseous molecule produced by the endothelium that performs several biological functions, including dilating blood vessels and regulating blood pressure. The average increase ranged from 13.9 to 23.5 micromoles per liter of blood in subjects taking the supplements. Those on placebo showed an increase of only 15.3 micromoles per liter.
Besides raising NO concentrations by 8 micromoles per liter compared to placebo, supplementation enhanced flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a measure of blood flow and vascular health, by 5.25%. Increases in FMD were associated with significant increases in VO2max, the maximum oxygen consumption, indicating the highest amount of oxygen that can be used per unit time during muscular work.
More Omega-3 Means More NO
According to the researchers, these results suggest that increased release of NO by the endothelium in response to omega-3 supplementation may play a central role in the cardiovascular adaptive mechanisms and in boosting the sports performance of cyclists.
This research adds a small but important piece to the scientific evidence supporting the importance of omega-3 in sports nutrition.
Source: A. Zebrowska, K. Mizia-Stec, M. Mizia, Z. Gasior, S. Poprzecki: “Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation improves endothelial function and maximal oxygen uptake in endurance-trained athletes” European Journal of Sport Science Volume 15, Number 4, Pages 305-314, doi: 10.1080/17461391.2014.949310
