Abstract
PURPOSE: Previous research has demonstrated that fish oil supplementation has a protective effect on exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in elite athletes, which may be attributed to its antiinflammatory properties. Since EIB in asthma involves pro inflammatory mediator release, it is feasible that fish oil supplementation may reduce the severity of EIB in asthmatic subjects. The main aim of the study was to determine the efficacy offish oil supplementation on severity of EIB in subjects with asthma. METHODS: Sixteen asthmatic patients with documented EIB participated in a randomized, double-blind crossover study. Subjects entered the study on their normal diet, and then received either fish oil capsules containing 3.2 g eicosapentaenoic acid 2.0 g docohexaenoic acid (fish oil diet; n=8) or placebo capsules (placebo diet; n=8) taken daily for 3 weeks. At the beginning of the study (normal diet) and at the end of each treatment phase the following pre- and post-exercise measures were assessed: (1) pulmonary function; (2) induced sputum (IS) differential cell count percentage and pro inflammatory eicosanoid metabolite (LTC4-E4 and PGD2) and cytokine (IL-1β and TNF-α) concentrations; (3) eicosanoid metabolites LTB4 and LTB5 generation from activated polymorp ho nuclear leukocytes (PMNLs). RESULTS: On the normal and placebo diet subjects exhibited EIB. However, the fish oil diet improved pulmonary function to below the diagnostic EIB threshold, with a concurrent reduction in broncho dilator use. IS differential cell count percentage and concentration of LTC4-E4, PGD2, IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly reduced before and following exercise on the fish oil diet compared to the normal and placebo diet. There was a significant reduction in LTB4 and a significant increase in LTB5 generation from activated PMNLs on the fish oil diet compared to the normal and placebo diet. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that fish oil supplementation may represent a potentially beneficial nonpharmacological intervention for asthmatic subjects with EIB.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
