ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana - Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2019 June;178(6):411-6

DOI: 10.23736/S0393-3660.18.03860-3

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Effect of docosahexaenoic acid supplementation on differences of endurance exercise performance in competitive and non-competitive male cyclists

Francisco J. LÓPEZ-ROMÁN ¹ ✉, Vicente ÁVILA-GANDÍA ¹, Carlos J. CONTRERAS-FERNÁNDEZ ¹, Antonio J. LUQUE-RUBIA ¹, José A. VILLEGAS-GARCÍA ²

¹ Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, San Antonio Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), Guadalupe, Murcia, Spain; ² General Direction of Planning, Research, Pharmacy and Citizen Counseling, Health Department, Murcia, Spain

BACKGROUND: An open-label, single-center study was designed to assess whether there were differences in endurance exercise performance between competitive and non-competitive cyclist after consumption of a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich dietary supplement (2.1 g/day) for 3 months.
METHODS: Before and after DHA supplementation, participants performed two maximal incremental tests on a cycle, an initial speed load of 70 W, with a 25 W load increase every minute. Ergospirometric assessment included maximum capacity to transport and use oxygen (VO2max), peak heart rate (HR), maximum test time, VO2 at second ventilatory threshold (VT2), power output to reach VT2, respiratory exchange ratio (RER) at VT2, HR and RER at 2000 mL/min oxygen uptake, and power output to reach VO2 at 2000 mL/min.
RESULTS: The analysis of variance for repeated measures was used. Thirteen participants completed the study. All of them were healthy male volunteers aged 18 years or more without history of clinically recognized chronic disease. In the overall study population, VO2 at VT2 and power output to reach VT2 increased significantly after 3-month treatment with DHA. The competitive level, however, had no effect in the between-group comparisons of competitive and non-competitive cyclists.
CONCLUSIONS: In this preliminary study, high-dose DHA supplementation for 3 months showed a beneficial effect on VO2 at VT2 and power output to reach VT2 regardless the competitive level of cyclists. These data should be further confirmed in a large study sample.

KEY WORDS: Exercise tolerance; Fatty acids, omega-3; Dietary supplements; Bicycling