Omega-3 fatty acids enhance the beneficial effect of BCAA supplementation on muscle function following eccentric contractions

Figures & data

Table 1. Changes of food frequency surveys and serum dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid.

Food frequency surveys		PL (n = 9)	BCAA (n = 10)	BCAA+FO (n = 10)
Energy (kcal)	Before supplementations	2023.6 ± 670.0	2396.3 ± 426.1	2459.0 ± 1043.3
	After supplementations	1836.9 ± 665.0	2357.3 ± 1260.0	2408.3 ± 983.3
Protein (g)	Before supplementations	71.2 ± 35.5	93.1 ± 18.9	86.3 ± 37.9
	After supplementations	73.5 ± 40.4	92.7 ± 69.6	90.4 ± 43.1
Fat (g)	Before supplementations	67.7 ± 23.4	91.9 ± 20.8	80.0 ± 46.6
	After supplementations	70.1 ± 20.7	81.4 ± 44.6	84.8 ± 42.1
Carbohydrate (g)	Before supplementations	274.4 ± 79.1	290.1 ± 87.0	336.4 ± 131.5
	After supplementations	220.0 ± 87.6	302.3 ± 143.1	311.0 ± 133.0
Omega-3 fatty acids (g)	Before supplementations	2.2 ± 1.2	2.8 ± 0.8	2.6 ± 1.6
	After supplementations	2.7 ± 1.8	3.1 ± 1.8	2.8 ± 1.3
Serum fatty acid
Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (μg/ml)	Before supplementations	188.7 ± 42.0	170.8 ± 45.1	171.2 ± 21.3
	After supplementations	178.1 ± 24.2	157.2 ± 43.9	166.5 ± 24.5
Arachidonic acid (μg/ml)	Before supplementations	32.0 ± 12.3	37.0 ± 7.0	32.6 ± 10.3
	After supplementations	27.8 ± 9.8	31.7 ± 7.7	29.0 ± 8.7
Eicosapentaenoic acid (μg/ml)	Before supplementations	29.3 ± 15.4	22.3 ± 11.1	33.2 ± 25.3
	After supplementations	24.2 ± 21.3	17.8 ± 13.3	60.9 ± 16.5†*
Docosahexaenoic acid (μg/ml)	Before supplementations	68.1 ± 17.9	71.6 ± 24.9	72.7 ± 25.2
	After supplementations	64.2 ± 14.9	60.5 ± 21.1	82.2 ± 16.2*

† p < 0.05 for the difference from the before supplementations value. * p < 0.05 for the difference between BCAA+FO group and PL, BCAA group.

Figure 1. Changes (mean ± SD) in maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) torque at 90° measured before (pre) and immediately after (post) the eccentric contractions exercise and 1, 2, 3, and 5 days after in the placebo (PL) group, the BCAA group, and the BCAA+FO group. * p < 0.05 for the difference between the PL group and the BCAA+FO group. † p < 0.05 for the difference from the pre-exercise value in the PL group. § p < 0.05 for the difference from the pre-exercise value in the BCAA group. ♯ p < 0.05 for the difference from the pre-exercise value in the BCAA+FO group.

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Figure 2. Changes (mean ± SD) in range of motion (ROM) (A) and muscle soreness (B), and blood serum creatine kinase level (C) measured before (pre) and immediately after (post) the eccentric contractions exercise and 1, 2, 3 and 5 days after in the placebo (PL) group, the BCAA group, and the BCAA+FO group. * p < 0.05 for the difference between PL and BCAA group. † p < 0.05 for the difference from the pre-exercise value in the PL group. § p < 0.05 for the difference from the pre-exercise value in the BCAA group. ♯ p < 0.05 for the difference from the pre-exercise value in the BCAA+FO group.

Figure 3. Changes (mean ± SD) of circumference (A), muscle thickness (B) and echo intensity (C), measured before (pre) and immediately after (post) the eccentric contractions exercise and 1, 2, 3 and 5 days after in the placebo (PL) group, the BCAA group, and the BCAA+FO group.