Omega-3’s Increase Exercise Oxidative Stress

Researchers from Appalachian State University recently investigated the effects of independent and combined supplementation with omega-3 essential fatty acids and antioxidant vitamins on exercise-induced oxidative stress (i.e. free radical damage) in the muscles of competitive cyclists. The subjects were divided into four groups. For a period of six weeks, each cyclist received either omega-3, antioxidant vitamins, both, or placebo daily. At the end of the supplementation period, markers of oxidative stress were measured over three days of training. The authors of the study, which was published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, found that omega-3 supplementation alone significantly increased post-exercise levels of F2-isoprostanes, which are a biomarker of oxidative stress. Supplementation with antioxidant vitamins only slightly reduced the increase associated with omega-3 supplementation. So, while omega-3 fats do a lot of good things in the body, reducing exercise-related oxidative stress appears not to be one of them!