Effect of DHA on plasma fatty acid availability and oxidative stress during training season and football exercise

Abstract

The aim was to determine the effects of a diet supplemented with 1.14 g per day of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for eight weeks on the plasma oxidative balance and anti-inflammatory markers after training and acute exercise. Fifteen volunteer male football players were randomly assigned to placebo or experimental and supplemented groups. Blood samples were taken under resting conditions at the beginning and after eight weeks of training under resting and post-exercise conditions. The experimental beverage increased the plasma DHA availability in non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and triglyceride fatty acids (TGFAs) and increased the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) fraction of NEFAs but had no effects on the biomarkers for oxidative balance in plasma. During training, plasma protein markers of oxidative damage, the haemolysis degree and the antioxidant enzyme activities increased, but did not affect lipid oxidative damage. Training season and DHA influenced the circulating levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Acute exercise did not alter the basal levels of plasma markers for oxidative and nitrosative damage of proteins and lipids, and the antioxidant enzyme activities, although DHA-diet supplementation significantly increased the PGE2 in plasma after acute exercise. In conclusion, the training season and acute exercise, but not the DHA diet supplementation, altered the pattern of plasma oxidative damage, as the antioxidant system proved sufficient to prevent the oxidative damage induced by the acute exercise in well-trained footballers. The DHA-diet supplementation increased the prostaglandin PGE2 plasma evidencing anti-inflammatory effects of DHA to control inflammation after acute exercise.

Effects of Almond- and Olive Oil-Based Docosahexaenoic- and Vitamin E-Enriched Beverage Dietary Supplementation on Inflammation Associated to Exercise and Age

“…Erythrocyte and beverage fatty acids were extracted in duplicate with chloroform/methanol (2:1 v/v) by a modified method of Folch [12,34], containing 0.01% butylated hydroxyanisole as antioxidant and 20 µL of n-heptadecanoic acid (15 mM) as the internal standard. The resultant organic phase was evaporated under a nitrogen stream at 55 °C.…”

“…The increased IL-6 plasma levels after exercise results from muscular secretion and exerts an anti-inflammatory action [23,24]. In turn, increased PGE2 after exercise could also be considered an anti-inflammatory effector [12,54]. TNFα is considered a pro-inflammatory cytokine that increases in plasma as result of dietary functional beverage supplementation and as result of exercise in senior athletes, in any event.…”

“…Supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, antioxidants and vitamins are widely consumed for better health and athletic achievement [10]. Beneficial effects of dietary supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( n -3-PUFAs) on exercise performance [11] and on physical activity oxidative balance [12] have been evidenced. Dietary supplementation with n -3-PUFAs reduces the inflammatory response against pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) in vitro [13,14], although the effects on the immune response associated with intense physical activity are questioned [15,16,17].…”

Fit with good fat? The role of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on exercise performance

“…On the other hand McAnulty et al [85] showed that supplementation with n-3 PUFA (2.4 g/day), versus placebo (soybean oil) in trained cyclists resulted in a greater post-exercise plasma concentration of F2-isoprostanes following three days of 3-hour cycling sessions. In addition, there are studies which find no effect of n-3 PUFA supplementation on exercise induce markers of oxidative stress [86], [87]. A great deal of the confusion in this area likely relates to the many different participant groups, exercise protocols and chosen marker/markers (and analytical techniques) of oxidative stress.…”

Impact of aerobic exercise and fatty acid supplementation on global and gene-specific DNA methylation

“…Supplementation of FAs, including omega-3 polyunsaturated FAs (n-3 PUFAs) and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), are consumed to reduce levels of inflammation [38,39], however, the impact of these supplements on exercise-induced inflammation is equivocal. Some studies have detected reductions in inflammation post-exercise with FA supplementation [40,41], whereas, others have reported no change in inflammation [42,43]. An emerging mechanism for the anti-inflammatory impact of FA supplementation is via epigenetic modifications [44][45][46][47].…”