Omega-3 Index Associated With Dietary Intake In NCAA Division 1 Collegiate Women Soccer Athletes

Abstract

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients in supporting overall health. Omega-3 Index, a percentage of total fatty acids, is the sum of erythrocyte membrane DHA and EPA. This description of erythrocyte DHA+EPA is a standard measure of nutrient status. Previous research in NCAA Division 1 American football athletes (n=404) report mean Omega-3 Index was 4.4% ± 0.8% suggesting an omega-3 deficient status. Dietary habits can influence omega-3 status. Food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) are often utilized to represent DHA and EPA intake habits from reported dietary recalls. Recently, in pregnant women, an abbreviated 7-question FFQ assessing DHA and EPA intake was correlated with Omega-3 Index. However, its potential utility in female athletes has not been explored. Also, Omega-3 Index is unknown in women collegiate athletes. PURPOSE: To measure Omega-3 Index and assess dietary DHA and EPA intake using an abbreviated 7-question FFQ on a NCAA Division 1 collegiate women’s soccer team as well as investigate the association between respective measures. METHODS: 24 women soccer athletes, pre-season, completed abbreviated FFQ and provided Omega-3 Index blood collection sample. One drop of whole blood from a finger stick was collected by research group and analyzed by OmegaQuant Analytics, LLC (Sioux Falls, SD). Means and standard deviations were computed. Pearson correlations between Omega-3 Index and FFQ were determined. RESULTS: The mean Omega-3 index among all athletes was 4.3% ± 0.6%. Mean FFQ DHA and EPA intake was 84mg/d ± 61mg and 49mg/d ± 37mg respectively. The abbreviated FFQ was moderately correlated with Omega-3 Index (r=0.487, p=.016). CONCLUSIONS: Division 1 women soccer athletes’ Omega-3 Index are like previously reported American football athletes indicating a possible deficiency. Also, the abbreviated FFQ was correlated to Omega-3 Index suggesting it to be a possible predictor of omega-3 nutrient status in an athlete population. Lastly, these reported Omega-3 Index and FFQ findings in women soccer athletes suggest inadequate dietary intake of DHA and EPA to support overall health.