Supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid-rich fish oil improves exercise economy and reduces perceived exertion during submaximal steady-state exercise in normal healthy untrained men
Abstract
Based on the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on reduction of blood viscosity, we theorized that PUFA could improve aerobic performance by increasing oxygen supply to tissues. Twenty male subjects were randomly divided into two groups (n = 10): a fish oil group (FG) and a control (CG). Maximal oxygen uptake and oxygen uptake during submaximal exercise were measured using a cycle ergometer. For 8 weeks, the FG then ingested capsules containing 3.6 g/day of EPA-rich fish oil, while the CG took 3.6 g/day of a medium-chain triglyceride. After supplementation, erythrocyte EPA and DHA in the FG were significantly increased. In the FG, a negative linear correlation was detected in the change between erythrocyte EPA and whole oxygen uptake during submaximal exercise pre- and post-supplementation. The present study showed that EPA-rich fish oil supplementation improves exercise economy in humans.
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Regarding endurance-based sports, n-3 supplementation has been reported to positively affect parameters of oxidative capacity and oxygen efficiency but has not translated to any meaningful improvements in endurance exercise performance.
“Regarding endurance based sports, n-3 supplementation has been reported to positively affect parameters of oxidative capacity [146,147] and oxygen efficiency [148,149] but this also has not translated to any meaningful improvements in endurance exercise performance [150].”
From Nutritional Considerations for the Vegan Athlete (2023) · cites this paper as [149]
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- Authors
- Kawabata, F., Neya, M., Hamazaki, K., Watanabe, Y., Kobayashi, S., & Tsuji, T.
- Affiliations
- Nippon Suisan Kaisha (Japan) (JP)
- The University of Tokyo (JP)
- University of Toyama (JP)
- Josai International University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Kawabata, Fuminori
- Venue
- Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2014-12-02
- Volume
- 78
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 2081-2088
- ISSN
- 0916-8451 (ISSN-L)
- 1347-6947
- OpenAlex
- W2095187945
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 5 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 2
- FWCI
- 2.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model (vor)
- Locations
- Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Keywords
- eicosapentaenoic acid, fish oil supplementation, omega-3 fatty acids, exercise economy, perceived exertion, oxygen consumption, blood viscosity, erythrocyte fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid, medium-chain triglycerides, aerobic performance, untrained men
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Oral, Docosahexaenoic Acids, Erythrocytes, Physical Exertion, Fish Oils, Humans, Male, Oxygen Consumption, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Exercise, Dietary Supplements, Young Adult
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