The effect of a combined omega-3 fatty acid and a-tocopherol supplementation on physical work capacity and blood antioxidant status in male subjects

The main objective of the work was to determine the influence of a 3 week combined supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) omega-3 and a-tocopherol on physical performance, blood antioxidant status, CK activity, concentration of MDA as well as lipid and lipoprotein profile. The research project included 24 students of physical education, which were randomly divided into supplemented (S) and control groups (C), of 12 subjects each. The S group received PUFA omega-3 over a 3 weeks period in a daily dose of 1,3 g, which included EPA- 30% and DHA- 20% with a total of 4 mg·g-1 of a-tocopherol. The students were subjected to an identical, 1-hour ergocycle effort with a workload of 60% Wmax. The pedaling rate was steady over the first 45 min (60 rev·min-1 ) and maximal over the last 15 min. After 3 weeks of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids a tendency for increased total external work occurred yet this difference was statistically not significant. During this period of time the S group showed a significant rise in SOD activity and GSH concentration in the blood. The supplementation protocol did not affect the activities of GPx, GR and CAT, the concentration of a-tocopherol, g-tocopherol, KM and MDA as well as plasma CK activity. No effect was observed in relation to the concentration of TAG, total cholesterol and HDL, LDL cholesterol. The lipoprotein fraction „b”, „pre-b” and „a” were unaffected by the omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. A tendency for a decrease of the TAG concentration in the supplemented group occurred.