Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation and Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: EPA or DHA?

Purpose: Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may enhance recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). However, it is unclear if the effects are due to EPA, DHA, or both. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of EPA + DHA, EPA, and DHA compared with placebo (PL) on muscular recovery. Methods: Thirty males were randomized to 4 g·d−1 EPA + DHA (n = 8), EPA (n = 8), DHA (n = 7), or PL (n = 7). After 7-wk supplementation, a downhill running (20 min, 70% V̇O2max, −16% gradient) plus jumping lunges (5 × 20 reps, 2-min rest intervals) muscle damage protocol was performed. Indices of muscle damage, soreness, muscle function, and inflammation were measured at baseline and throughout recovery. The omega-3 index (O3i; %EPA + %DHA in erythrocytes) was used to track tissue EPA and DHA status. Results: After supplementation, the O3i was significantly higher than PL in all experimental groups (P < 0.001). Leg press performance was lower in the PL group at 24 h compared with EPA (P = 0.019) and at 72 h for EPA (P = 0.004) and DHA (P = 0.046). Compared with PL, muscle soreness was lower in the DHA (P = 0.015) and EPA (P = 0.027) groups at 48 h. Albeit nonsignificant, EPA + DHA tended to attenuate muscle soreness (d = 1.37) and leg strength decrements (d = 0.75) compared with PL. Jump performance and power metrics improved more rapidly in the EPA and DHA groups (time effects: P < 0.001). Measures of inflammation, range of motion, and muscle swelling were similar between groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Compared with PL, 4 g·d−1 of EPA or DHA for 52 d improves certain aspects of recovery from EIMD. EPA + DHA did not clearly enhance recovery. Equivalent dosing of EPA + DHA may blunt the performance effects observed in EPA or DHA alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]