EXERCISE AND FISH OIL

Abstract

In sedentary subjects, aerobic exercise and omega-3 fatty acid (n-3FA) supplementation interfere with each other and results in no change in postprandial lipemia (PPL). It is unknown if this interference is present in recreationally trained subjects. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to measure changes in PPL and to determine if this interference occurs in recreationally trained males. METHODS Ten recreationally active males (VO2max 53.1 ± 1.7 ml/kg/min) served as subjects. Each subject completed postprandial trials: Pre n-3FA supplementation 1. High fat meal (HFM) only (M), 2. HFM plus exercise (MX). Post n-3FA supplementation (F) 3. HFM only (MF), and 4. HFM plus exercise (MFX). In addition, fasting lipoprotein lipase activity (LPLa) was determined before and after supplementation. Supplementation consisted of 3 wk of n-3FA ingestion at 4 g/d. The exercise session was a 60 min treadmill run at 60% of VO2max. Blood was collected prior to the HFM and at 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after the HFM. Triglyceride (TG) peak response, the total area under the TG curve (TG-AUCT), the incremental area under the TG curve (TG-AUCI), and LPLa were analyzed for differences among the trials. RESULTS TG peak response was significantly reduced 38% by n-3FA supplementation and 50% by the combination of exercise and n-3FA supplementation. N-3FA and the combined treatments significantly reduced the TG-AUCT by 27% and 42%, respectively. When compared to the MX trial, the TG-AUCT during the MFX trial was significantly lower. Exercise, n-3FAs, and the combination of the two significantly reduced the TG-AUCI by 40, 42, and 58%, respectively. There was a non-significant 22% increase in fasting LPLa following n-3FA supplementation. CONCLUSION These results suggest that the interference of aerobic exercise and n-3FA supplementation is not present in recreationally active subjects. These results also suggest that the combined treatments may have an additive effect on PPL. Supported by ACSM Foundation Research Grant and UMC Research Council Grant.