Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Sport Performance—Are They Equally Beneficial for Athletes and Amateurs? A Narrative Review

Thielecke, Frank; Blannin, Andrew K.

doi:10.3390/nu12123712

Cited by 49 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 93 publications

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“…In summary, beneficial effects for strength and muscle mass in humans are partly inconclusive [170] and the overall effect of those fatty acids on EE performance is considerably lower in humans than in migrating birds [171][172][173].…”

Section: Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids May Augment Skeletal Muscle Adaptation In Response To Exercisementioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Vegan and Vegetarian Diets on Physical Performance and Molecular Signaling in Skeletal Muscle

et al. 2021

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Muscular adaptations can be triggered by exercise and diet. As vegan and vegetarian diets differ in nutrient composition compared to an omnivorous diet, a change in dietary regimen might alter physiological responses to physical exercise and influence physical performance. Mitochondria abundance, muscle capillary density, hemoglobin concentration, endothelial function, functional heart morphology and availability of carbohydrates affect endurance performance and can be influenced by diet. Based on these factors, a vegan and vegetarian diet possesses potentially advantageous properties for endurance performance. Properties of the contractile elements, muscle protein synthesis, the neuromuscular system and phosphagen availability affect strength performance and can also be influenced by diet. However, a vegan and vegetarian diet possesses potentially disadvantageous properties for strength performance. Current research has failed to demonstrate consistent differences of performance between diets but a trend towards improved performance after vegetarian and vegan diets for both endurance and strength exercise has been shown. Importantly, diet alters molecular signaling via leucine, creatine, DHA and EPA that directly modulates skeletal muscle adaptation. By changing the gut microbiome, diet can modulate signaling through the production of SFCA.

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Section: Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids May Augment Skeletal Muscle Adaptation In Response To Exercisementioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Vegan and Vegetarian Diets on Physical Performance and Molecular Signaling in Skeletal Muscle

et al. 2021

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“…Proper nutrition is necessary for competitive athletes to adjust to high physical and metabolic activity due to increased energy and nutritional needs ( Thielecke and Blannin, 2020 ). The interest in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in sport nutrition is rising, due to their potential to preserve cardiovascular (CV) health and prevent progression of CV diseases ( Thies et al, 2003 ; Zehr and Walker, 2018 ; Stupin et al, 2019 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does the Endothelium of Competitive Athletes Benefit from Consumption of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Enriched Hen Eggs?

Kolar

Stupin

et al. 2021

Prev. Nutr. Food Sci.

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The present study aimed to determine the effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-enriched hen eggs on microvascular vasodilation, microvascular responsiveness to a stress challenge and markers of oxidative stress in competitive athletes. Competitive athletes (n=23) were divided to a control group (n=9), who consumed three regular hens' eggs daily (249 mg n-3 PUFAs/d), and n-3 PUFAs group (n=14), who consumed three n-3 PUFA-enriched hen eggs daily (1,053 g n-3 PUFAs/d) for 3 weeks. Endothelium-dependent responses [post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) and acetylcholine-induced dilation (AChID)] and endothelium-independent responses [sodium nitroprusside-induced dilation (SNPID)] of skin microvascular blood flow were assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry in pre-and post-acute exhausting exercise (AEE) sessions. Blood pressure, serum lipid, free fatty acids profiles, and biomarkers of oxidative stress were measured before and after each dietary protocol. Consumption of serum n-3 PUFAs significantly decreased the n-6/n-3 ratio and enhanced PORH and AChID, but did not affect SNPID at rest. Furthermore, serum glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly decreased in the n-3 PUFAs group but remained unchanged in the control group. In both groups, PORH, AChID, and SNP were significantly reduced post-AEE compared with pre-AEE, both before and after consumption of each diet. Only AChID responsiveness to AEE (ΔAChID) significantly increased following consumption of n-3 PUFAs. Overall, n-3 PUFAs supplementation as n-3 PUFA-enriched hen eggs enhanced microvascular endothelial function at rest and may contribute to adaptation to AEE in competitive athletes.

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“…Additionally, dietary fat modulates the gut microbiota composition and subsequently impacts metabolic health ( 104 ). The amount and type of dietary fat are important aspects of dietary quality and are important considerations for both athletic performance ( 102 , 103 , 105 ) and the health of the gut microbiota ( 104 , 106–108 ).…”

Section: Dietary Strategies For Sport and The Gutmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, while a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet does enhance fat oxidation, there is no evidence to support the notion that it increases performance; instead, there is evidence that it may decrease exercise performance at higher intensities ( 102 , 103 , 110 , 112 ). Alternatively, supplementation of omega-3 (ɷ-3) essential fatty acids may positively affect exercise performance via improved endurance capacity, recovery, and immune modulation ( 105 ). However, most studies have been conducted in untrained, amateur populations, and few focus on performance as an outcome, limiting the ability to determine their ergogenic effects in athletes ( 105 ).…”

Section: Dietary Strategies For Sport and The Gutmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Alternatively, supplementation of omega-3 (ɷ-3) essential fatty acids may positively affect exercise performance via improved endurance capacity, recovery, and immune modulation ( 105 ). However, most studies have been conducted in untrained, amateur populations, and few focus on performance as an outcome, limiting the ability to determine their ergogenic effects in athletes ( 105 ).…”

Section: Dietary Strategies For Sport and The Gutmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fueling Gut Microbes: A Review of the Interaction between Diet, Exercise, and the Gut Microbiota in Athletes

Hughes

Holscher

2021

Advances in Nutrition

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The athlete's goal is to optimize their performance. Towards this end, nutrition has been used to improve the health of athletes’ brains, bones, muscles, and cardiovascular system. However, recent research suggests that the gut and its resident microbiota may also play a role in athlete health and performance. Therefore, athletes should consider dietary strategies in the context of their potential effects on the gut microbiota, including the impact of sports-centric dietary strategies (e.g., protein supplements, carbohydrate loading) on the gut microbiota as well as the effects of gut-centric dietary strategies (e.g., probiotics, prebiotics) on performance. This review provides an overview of the interaction between diet, exercise, and the gut microbiota, focusing on dietary strategies that may impact both the gut microbiota and athletic performance. Current evidence suggests that the gut microbiota could, in theory, contribute to the effects of dietary intake on athletic performance by influencing microbial metabolite production, gastrointestinal physiology, and immune modulation. Common dietary strategies such as high protein and simple carbohydrate intake, low fiber intake, and food avoidance may adversely impact the gut microbiota and, in turn, performance. Conversely, intake of adequate dietary fiber, a variety of protein sources, and emphasis on unsaturated fats, especially omega-3 (ɷ-3) fatty acids, in addition to consumption of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics, have shown promising results in optimizing athlete health and performance. Ultimately, while this is an emerging and promising area of research, more studies are needed that incorporate, control, and manipulate all 3 of these elements (i.e., diet, exercise, and gut microbiome) to provide recommendations for athletes on how to “fuel their microbes.”

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Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Sport Performance—Are They Equally Beneficial for Athletes and Amateurs? A Narrative Review

Cited by 49 publications

References 93 publications

The Impact of Vegan and Vegetarian Diets on Physical Performance and Molecular Signaling in Skeletal Muscle

The Impact of Vegan and Vegetarian Diets on Physical Performance and Molecular Signaling in Skeletal Muscle

Does the Endothelium of Competitive Athletes Benefit from Consumption of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid-Enriched Hen Eggs?

Fueling Gut Microbes: A Review of the Interaction between Diet, Exercise, and the Gut Microbiota in Athletes

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