EFFECT OF OMEGA 3 AND REGULAR EXERCISE ON THE MUSCLE PERFORMANCE: SPECIAL PREVALENCE OF HISTAMINE AND NITRIC OXIDE PRODUCTION

Abstract

Background: Skeletal muscle fatigue due to unaccustomed hard and/or prolonged physical exercise may be caused by increase of lactic acid, inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress. Stimulation of H1 receptors by histamine and the ensuing production of nitric oxide trigger the vasodilating effect of histamine on arterioles in exercise to supply O2 and nutrients and removal of CO2 and waste products. Objective: Investigating the effect of omega 3 alone or with regular exercise on improving muscle performance and delaying muscle fatigue. Subjects and methods: Forty apparently healthy subjects were studied. Depending on their previous physical conditioning status, subjects were divided into four equal groups: Two sedentary groups (group 1a without omega 3 therapy, and group 1b with omega 3), and two athletes groups (group 2a without omega 3 therapy, and group 2b with omega 3). Exercise tolerance was evaluated for each subject by using a free swimming competition (100 meters). Pulmonary ventilation, vital capacity, respiratory rate and heart rate were estimated before and after competition. Total antioxidant, lipid peroxides, total nitrate and nitrites, lactic acid and histamine levels were determined Results: Omega-treated and/or regular exercise volunteers showed significantly increase of pulmonary ventilation, vital capacity, total antioxidant, nitric oxide (NO) and histamine levels, and significantly decrease of qualifying time competition, respiratory, resting and maximal heart rates, plasma lipid peroxides, and lactic acid compared with corresponding values of volunteers without Omega 3 or regular exercise. The combination of omega 3 plus regular exercise was more effective than each one alone. Conclusions: The results obtained in the present study provided an evidence that daily administration of omega 3 and/or regular exercise improved muscle performance and delayed fatigue through release of histamine and NO during exercise.