Inflammation and muscle damage markers of football athletes during heavy physical training with DHA supplementation Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a C22:6 omega3 fatty acid that has been shown to reduce inflammation. Our study examined serum inflammatory (GMCSF, IL6, IL8, TNF, interferon, CRP) and muscle damage (creatine kinase, LDH, ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase) markers following 2 g/d of supplemented, purified algal DHA (E;n=24) or placebo (P;n=28) in American collegiate football athletes during preseason training. Fasted blood was drawn three different times: 1) Summer (S) before starting supplements (T1); 2) August, precamp (PRE) after 35 d supplementation (T2); and 3) August, postcamp (POST) after 52 d supplementation (T3). A 2x3 ANCOVA with repeated measures (covaried for race; CRP for weight change). A significant group x time interaction was observed in IL8 (p<0.05). Other markers of inflammation showed no differences between groups (p>0.05). POST CRP was significantly higher than PRE (p<0.001). POST levels of creatine kinase, LDH, ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase were significantly (p<0.001) increased compared to S and PRE in both groups. Preseason training can elevate muscle damage markers. DHA supplementation did affect IL8 levels during preseason training of collegiate football athletes.Funding provided by Martek Biosciences Corp., Columbia, MD and The Sydney & J.L. Huffines Institute for Sports Medicine & Human Performance

published proceedings

  • The FASEB Journal

author list (cited authors)

  • Dobson, J. P., Oliver, J. M., Riechman, S. E., & Crouse, S. F.

complete list of authors

  • Dobson, Justin P||Oliver, Jonathan M||Riechman, Steven E||Crouse, Stephen F

publication date

  • April 2011

publisher