Krill-Oil-Dependent Increases in HS-Omega-3 Index, Plasma Choline and Antioxidant Capacity in Well-Conditioned Power Training Athletes.

Franchek Drobnic,Ventura Ferrer-Roca,Montserrat Banquells,Per Björk,Lena Burri,Yunpeng Ding,Joan Riera,Joan Carles Domingo,Andreas B Storsve

doi:10.3390/nu13124237

Franchek Drobnic, Ventura Ferrer-Roca + Show 7 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13124237

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Abstract

There is evidence that both omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) and choline can influence sports performance, but information establishing their combined effects when given in the form of krill oil during power training protocols is missing. The purpose of this study was therefore to characterize n-3 PUFA and choline profiles after a one-hour period of high-intensity physical workout after 12 weeks of supplementation. Thirty-five healthy power training athletes received either 2.5 g/day of Neptune krill oilTM (550 mg EPA/DHA and 150 mg choline) or olive oil (placebo) in a randomized double-blind design. After 12 weeks, only the krill oil group showed a significant HS-Omega-3 Index increase from 4.82 to 6.77% and a reduction in the ARA/EPA ratio (from 50.72 to 13.61%) (p < 0.001). The krill oil group showed significantly higher recovery of choline concentrations relative to the placebo group from the end of the first to the beginning of the second exercise test (p = 0.04) and an 8% decrease in total antioxidant capacity post-exercise versus 21% in the placebo group (p = 0.35). In conclusion, krill oil can be used as a nutritional strategy for increasing the HS-Omega-3 Index, recover choline concentrations and address oxidative stress after intense power trainings.

Highlights

The high-intensity modality of exercise performed during short periods of time has gained popularity in the last decades due to factors related to health, fashion and a sense of well-being
These activities are known as power training (PT) sports, or high-intensity interval training activities (HIIT), but sometimes popularly referred to as CrossFit, which is a registered trademark (CrossFitTM)
Whereas power lifting focuses on bench press, squat and deadlift, the PT schedule is characterized by functional movements performed at high intensity, combining intervals of strength and endurance that can vary between weightlifting, running, cycling, squatting, pulling, pushing, etc. with little or no rest in between [1,2]

Summary

Introduction

The high-intensity modality of exercise performed during short periods of time has gained popularity in the last decades due to factors related to health, fashion and a sense of well-being. These activities are known as power training (PT) sports, or high-intensity interval training activities (HIIT), but sometimes popularly referred to as CrossFit, which is a registered trademark (CrossFitTM). With little or no rest in between [1,2] Because this functional movement training method is metabolically very demanding, its beneficial effect on health and on improving athletic performance has been contradictorily assessed [3,4,5,6]. It is noteworthy that a person’s need for endogenous choline is increased if genetic modifications of genes involved in the folate metabolism are present, which will further increase the risk for choline deficiency [18]

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