Effect of Plant Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids on Exercise Performance

January 12, 2016 updated by: Peter Lemon, University of Western Ontario, Canada
Many studies in the past three decades have examined the beneficial effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in diet and supplementation. The effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically omega-3 and omega-6, on health have been well-studied but most of the study to date has been on animal not plant sources and much less is know about their effects on exercise performance. Additionally, while positive effects have been detected for sedentary populations or those that are at risk, well-trained athletes generally have not had established advantages in taking supplements for omega-3 and omega-6 oils. There is evidence that a specific ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is most beneficial for the human body with regards to cardiovascular and mental health. In this study, participants randomized to either a plant supplement group (pureform omega; containing Flax, Evening Primrose, Sunflower, Coconut & Pumpkin oils; Natural Product Number = 80050660) or placebo (isoenergetic sugar pills) will be subjected to both a time trial and a high intensity interval bout, where their performance and power output will be analyzed. Blood lactate and glucose concentration, as well as oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production will also be examined to determine if there is a change in on fat oxidation after supplementation.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Double-blind placebo controlled study with two groups: a PUFA supplemented group (over 5 weeks) and a placebo (corn syrup) group. Participants are matched for initial exercise performance and assigned to each of the two groups systematically so the initial group means are similar. This is done by ranking all individuals from highest to lowest and assigning the participant with the highest score randomly to the treatment group and the other to the placebo group. Then, for the next two individuals in ranking, the highest of the two is assigned to the placebo group and the other to the treatment group. This procedure is repeated for all participant pairs. Of course, this is done separately for men and women because on average the men have greater exercise performance scores.

Dosage is 3.8 capsules/70kg body mass (rounded to the nearest capsule; 1 capsule contains 369mg PUFA from Flax, Evening Primrose, Pumpkin, Sunflower, and Coconut oil; <4 Calories) or isoenergetic placebo capsules (containing corn syrup) plus 2 capsules 20 minutes prior to exercise workouts. Eighteen recreationally active student volunteers (18-35 years old) will be recruited to complete 4 exercise tests: a cycle time trial (~15 minutes), a cycle maximal power test (30 second Wingate test), a maximal aerobic power test (running treadmill test) plus a strength/endurance test (number of bench presses with 60 kg load) pre- and post 5 weeks of daily supplementation. There will an accommodation day pre-study where each participant is familiarized with the tests to be used. Each exercise test will be completed on a separate day with at least 48 hours between each test day due to the fatiguing nature of the testing.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

18

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7
        • Exercise Nutrition Research Laboratory, Western University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 35 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy,
  • Recreationally active (defined as those who attend a gym or play sports about 2-3 times a week),
  • Non-pregnant student volunteers.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participants cannot have taken omega-3 or other polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements or undergone any systematic exercise training in the past 3 months,
  • Have symptoms or take medication for respiratory, cardiovascular, metabolic, or neuromuscular disease
  • Injury limiting exercise ability
  • Use heart rate or blood pressure medications
  • Use any medications that have side effects for dizziness, lack of motor control, or slowed reaction time
  • Smoker

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: placebo
This group will receive isoenergetic carbohydrate (corn syrup) supplement daily for 5 weeks
Dietary supplement: corn syrup
This group will receive an iso-energetic corn syrup supplement everyday for 5 weeks
Other: Polyunsaturated fatty acid group
This group will receive a plant essential fatty acid food supplement, Pureform Omega® capsules made from Fax, Sunflower, Coconut, Evening Primrose, & Pumpkin oils, containing a 2.5:1 omega-6 to omega-3 ratio (1.5 g per 70kg body mass plus an additional 0.5 g on exercise days)
Dietary supplement: Polyunsaturated fatty acid
This groups will receive 4 capsules/70kg body mass (Pureform Omega® capsules made from Fax, Sunflower, Coconut, Evening Primrose, & Pumpkin oils) every day for 5 weeks

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
change in cycle ergometer time trial
Time Frame: at baseline and 5 weeks after supplementation
A 40 Km time trial test on a cycle ergometer will be conducted before and after a 5-week supplementation period
at baseline and 5 weeks after supplementation
change in Aerobic capacity (VO2 max) test
Time Frame: at baseline and 5 weeks after supplementation
Aerobic capacity will be quantified using an incremental running test on a treadmill. The workload will be increased by increasing the slope (simulating a hill) at a constant speed (6mph)
at baseline and 5 weeks after supplementation
Change in Wingate Anaerobic Test
Time Frame: at baseline and 5 weeks after supplementation
A 30 second intense effort on a cycle ergometer against a load equal to 9% of body mass. Peak power, mean power, total work and fatigue index will be recorded at the end of each sprint.
at baseline and 5 weeks after supplementation
change in Strength/Endurance test
Time Frame: at baseline and 5 weeks after supplementation
Number of bench presses completed (rounded to the nearest 1/2 lift) with a 60 kg load and a metromone for pacing control (30 lifts per minute) will be used and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) will be assessed immediately before and immediately after each exercise test using the Borg Scale (analog scale with verbal identifiers)
at baseline and 5 weeks after supplementation

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
change in Body composition
Time Frame: at baseline and 5 weeks after supplementation
Body composition will be measured by densitometry using air displacement plethysmography with a BodPod® (involves sitting comfortably in a chamber for about 2 minutes while the space the body takes up is measured) for the measurement of fat and fat-free mass
at baseline and 5 weeks after supplementation
change in Blood lactate
Time Frame: at baseline and 5 weeks after supplementation
Capillary blood samples (0.6 microlitres) will be collected before and after each exercise session under standard sterile condition via standard skin prick technique for the measurement of blood lactate content using a blood lactate analyzer (Lactate Scout+).
at baseline and 5 weeks after supplementation
change in Blood glucose
Time Frame: at baseline and 5 weeks after supplementation
Capillary blood samples (0.6 microlitres) will be collected before and after each exercise session under standard sterile condition via standard skin prick technique for the measurement of blood glucose content using a blood glucose analyzer (Free Style Lite)
at baseline and 5 weeks after supplementation

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Western Ontario, Canada

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

February 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

February 1, 2017

Study Completion (Anticipated)

February 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 9, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 12, 2016

First Posted (Estimate)

January 13, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

January 13, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 12, 2016

Last Verified

January 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 10010467

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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