Effect of 4 Weeks Fish Oil Supplementation on Cycling Performance in Healthy Male Cyclists

Loughborough University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Exercise-induced Inflammation

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Placebo; Dietary Supplement: n-3 PUFA

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03205241

R14-P72

Details and patient eligibility

About

Research Plan

Eleven trained cyclists have completed 4 cycling performance trials, before and after 4 weeks of fish oil supplementation and before and after 4 weeks of placebo with a 4 week washout between supplementation periods. During the performance trials blood, expired air and heart rate were collected. The blood samples have been used to investigate the production of inflammation resulting from the cycling performance test. Inflammation has been assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IL-6, which is an inflammatory cytokine. Work done from the cycling performance will be analysed to investigate whether there is a relationship with power and inflammation and whether this is modulated by fish oil supplementation.

Specific Aims

1. Does 4 weeks of Fish Oil supplementation attenuate the inflammatory response following high intensity cycling.
2. Is a modulation of the inflammatory response connected to cycling performance.

Hypotheses

1. Four weeks of n3-PUFA supplementation will reduce the inflammatory response
2. A reduction in inflammation will improve cycling performance

Anticipated Outcomes

A high level of cycling performance, indicated by a high average power, will be associated with high levels of systemic inflammation. n3-PUFA supplementation will decrease the level of inflammation and consequently cycling performance will be improved.

Enrollment: 12 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• recreationally trained male cyclists

Exclusion criteria

• History of coagulation/bleeding disorder
• History of metabolic disease
• Serious allergy
• History of heart disease
• Regular use of anti-inflammatory drugs
• Vitamin or fish oil supplementation over the past 6 months
• Known to have blood-borne virus
• Females

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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12 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

n-3 PUFA

Experimental group

Description:

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid - 5.7g/ day for 4 weeks

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: n-3 PUFA

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Olive Oil - 6g/ day for 4 weeks

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Placebo