24 February 2012
The inclusion of fish oil supplementation into strength training may cause greater improvements in muscle strength and functional capacity, suggests a new Brazilian study.
To investigate the effect of fish oil supplementation and strength training on the neuromuscular system (muscle strength and functional capacity), 45 elderly women (mean age 64 years) were randomly assigned either to perform a strength training program for 90 days, to perform the same training program plus a daily fish oil supplementation of 2 grams (including 360 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 240 mg docosahexaenoic acid) for 90 days, or to take fish oil supplements already 60 days before starting the 90-day exercise program (1). The study results showed that the participants who took fish oil supplements had a greater improvement in muscle strength than those who only did exercise. However, there was no significant difference in muscle strength between the participants who took supplements for three months and those who did the five-month intake program.
The researchers concluded that strength training increases muscle strength in elderly women and that the inclusion of fish oil supplementation may cause greater improvements in muscle strength and functional capacity. However, these results would need to be confirmed in larger studies.
Muscle force and functional capacity generally decrease with age, although strength training can reverse, attenuate or both reverse and attenuate this effect. Fish oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, has been shown to play a role in the plasma membrane and cell function of muscles (2). Thus, because fish oil supplementation improves both cardiac muscle contractility and nerve conduction velocity, scientists have hypothesized that it may potentiate strength-training effects on skeletal muscles (3).
10 September 2015
A new study has shown that, after a four-week daily high dose intervention, fish oils, fish oil ethyl esters and krill oil have almost the same bioavailability in red blood cells and plasma when levels of EPA and DHA are matched. There was no evidence that the high phospholipid content or antioxidant content of krill oil improved the bioavailability of EPA and DHA.
17 April 2013
A new review from Sweden suggests that increased dietary calcium intake may be associated with a reduced risk of developing stroke in populations with low to moderate calcium consumption.
3 June 2011
Taking vitamins before and/or during the first month of pregnancy may reduce the chances of bearing a child with autism by 50 percent, says a new US study.
