Background: Although the ingestion of total omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3) is positively related with muscular strength in older persons, little is known about the effect of omega-3 plasma levels on muscular function before and after exercise in young men. Moreover, omega-3 supplementation has a positive role in exercise-induced acute muscle damage. This study investigated the relationship between plasma omega-3 in the blood and promotion and preservation of muscle strength after eccentric contractions (ECCs) in young men.
Methods: Thirty-two healthy young men participated in this study. We assessed plasma omega-3 level and the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Twenty-six out of them exercised 60 ECCs at 100% MVC. We measured the MVC torque, flexibility before and immediately after exercise, 1-5 days post exercise.
Results: The levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and EPA/arachidonic acid were positively associated with muscle strength (p < 0.05). Higher levels of omega-3 EPA and docosahexaenoic acid prevented the reduction in the MVC and limited joint flexibility after ECCs.
Conclusions: The present study reveals that higher levels of EPA are important to promote muscle strength and preserve the strength loss after exercise.
Keywords: ergogenic aid; lengthening; long-chain n − 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids; muscle function; omega–3 fatty acids; sports nutrition.