DHA supplementation and blood lipoproteins in football athletes during heavy physical training Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • We tested the effects of supplementing 2 g/d of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (n=24) or placebo (n=28) on blood lipid profiles (ultracentrifugation) in collegiate football athletes (age=202 y, ht=73.92.6 in, wt=23141 lb) during preseason training. Blood obtained after an overnight fast three different times: 1) Summer baseline (BASE) before starting supplements; 2) August, precamp (PREC) after 35 d supplementation; and 3) August, postcamp (POST) after 52 d supplementation. Nutrition assessments completed each time of blood sampling. VAR Placebo (n=28) DHA (n=24) BASE PREC POST BASE PREC POST TC 142 6 156* 7 148 7 153 6 161* 7 156 7 LDL 78 4 85* 5 85* 5 90 5 95* 5 98* 5 HDL 51 2 55* 3 48** 2 50 3 53* 3 45** 2 TG 110 11 146 19 96* 69 115 13 112 21 84* 10 VLDL 12 1 16 2 14 2 12 1 13 2 13 2 Table results (adjusted meansSE mg/dL, TC=cholesterol, TG=triglycerides) of 2(supplement)by3(time) ANCOVA (wt change & race covariates, interactions insignificant) & LSD followups across time; = different from BASE, =different from BASE & PREC, p<0.05). Reduced HDLC and triglycerides with increased LDLC during camp might indicate increased cholesterol metabolism for structural repair of damaged tissue. DHA supplementation did not affect the changes in blood lipid profiles of these athletes engaged in heavy physical training.Funding provided by Martek Biosciences Corp., Columbia, MD

published proceedings

  • The FASEB Journal

author list (cited authors)

  • Crouse, S. F., Oliver, J. M., Martin, S. E., Riechman, S. E., Dobson, J., McCammon, K., ... Bramhall, J. P.

complete list of authors

  • Crouse, Stephen F||Oliver, Jonathan M||Martin, Steven E||Riechman, Steven E||Dobson, Justin||McCammon, Katie||Weir, David||Tanguay, Jonathan||Bramhall, JP

publication date

  • April 2011

publisher