Fish Oil Enhances Athletic Performance

1: Obes Res. 2002 Sep;10(9):947-55.

Effects of dietary fatty acids and exercise on body-weight regulation and metabolism in rats.

Pellizzon M, Buison A, Ordiz F Jr, Santa Ana L, Jen KL.

Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the interaction of high-fat diets (HF) made with different dietary fatty acids and exercise on body-weight regulation, adiposity, and metabolism. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Male Wistar rats born to dams fed HF diets (40% w/w) made with either fish oil (FO), soybean oil (SO), or palm oil (PO) were fed diets similar to their dams and divided randomly into exercise (EX, swimming) or sedentary control (SD) groups when they were 9 weeks old. EX lasted for 6 weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last EX bout, fasted rats were killed by decapitation. Chemical analyses and body composition analysis were conducted. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that different fatty acids had different effects on body weight, composition, and metabolism. SO-fed rats gained the most weight and fat. EX reduced body weight of FO- and PO-fed rats, but SO-fed rats were still heavier and fatter than other rats. Data from SO- and PO-fed rats suggested that they are insulin resistant and that EX normalized this abnormality. Of the three HF diets used, FO produced the least adverse effects compared with PO and SO. DISCUSSION: Not only the quantity of dietary fat, but also the type of fat used, will produce different effects on body weight and metabolism. EX ameliorates the suggested insulin resistance induced in rats fed either highly saturated or n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, as found in fish oil, are more beneficial than n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids when fed in high amounts to rats. In addition fish oil type supplementation led to the best body composition in terms of fat/muscle ratio.

PMID: 12226144 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Ukr Biokhim Zh. 1997 Jul-Aug;69(4):83-7.

[Lipid composition of blood plasma and erythrocyte membrane of volleyball players under intensive physical load]

[Article in Russian]

Popichev MI, Tolkacheva NV, Kulakova SN, Konoshenko SV.

Tavrian Institute of Business and Law, Simferopol State University, Institute of Nutrition, Russian Academy of Medical Science, Moscow, Russia.

As the result of prolonged training activity highly skilled volleyball players have marked deficiency of fatty acids of w3 family both in the blood plasma as erythrocyte membranes. These acids may be used in the lipid peroxidation processes, that is proved by the facts of POL products content and their drawing into oxidation reaction, which is certified by high level of ATP in erythrocytes. Reduction of quantity of polyunsaturated fatty acids of w3 family may be regarded as results of their insufficient arrival with food indicating the need for supplementation in atheletes. PMID: 9583128 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1990 Jun;30(2):173-80.

Effect of fish oil supplementation and exercise on serum lipids and aerobic fitness.

Brilla LR, Landerholm TE.

Exercise and Sport Science Laboratory, Western Washington University, Bellingham.

The effects of fish oil supplementation and exercise were investigated in healthy, previously sedentary males, ages 19-34. Thirty-two subjects were assigned to four groups: control (C), fish (F), exercise (E), fish and exercise (FE). The fish groups consumed 4 g.d-1 of omega-3 fatty acids. The exercise groups performed aerobic exercise for one hour three per week. The study was conducted for 10 weeks with pre and post values obtained for cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT), percent body fat, and dietary composition of macronutrients and polyunsaturated to saturated fat (P:S) ratio. No significant differences were noted between groups for any of the blood lipid values, percent body fat or dietary variables. VO2max and VAT did exhibit significant changes among groups. VO2max was greater for the exercise groups (E, FE) as compared to the control group (p less than 0.05). E, but not FE, was significantly greater than F. VAT was significantly greater in F, E, and FE as compared to controls, however the control's VAT decreased slightly. The slight improvement, although statistically non-significant, in VO2max and VAT by the F group requires further study. This data indicates an improvement in aerobic metabolism from aerobic exercise, alone or in combination with fish oil, compared to controls.

PMID: 2402138 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1991;63(5):393-8.

Fish diet and physical fitness in relation to membrane and serum lipids, prostanoid metabolism and platelet aggregation in female students.

Agren JJ, Pekkarinen H, Litmanen H, Hanninen O.

Department of Physiology, University of Kuopio, Finland.

The effects of a 14-week fish diet and exercise programme on lipid metabolism and platelet aggregation in healthy female students (n = 99) were studied. The subjects were divided into four groups: a control group, a fish diet group (3.5 meals containing fish per week, 0.9 g n-3 fatty acids per day), an exercise group (at least three training sessions per week) and a combined fish diet and exercise group. The proportion of n-3 fatty acids increased at the expense of n-6 fatty acids in platelets and erythrocyte ghosts in the fish diet groups. Serum triglyceride concentrations tended to decrease in the fish diet and exercise groups and a significant decrease was found in the combined fish diet and exercise group (13%, P less than 0.05). No significant changes took place in the other serum lipid and apolipoprotein concentrations. Platelet production of thromboxane B2, plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha concentrations and adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation also remained unchanged in all groups during the study. However, an inverse correlation was found between physical fitness (maximal oxygen uptake and maximal exercise intensity) and serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and platelet aggregation. This suggests that improved physical fitness is related to beneficial changes in serum lipid concentrations and to a decreased aggregation tendency of platelets. The responses of the female subjects to a fish diet were similar when compared to earlier studies on male subjects. This suggests that there are small sex differences in the efficiency of n-3 fatty acids in modifying lipid metabolism. PMID: 1773818 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Acta Physiol Scand. 1997 Nov;161(3):379-84.

Effects of ubiquinone-10 supplementation and high intensity training on physical performance in humans.

Malm C, Svensson M, Ekblom B, Sjodin B.

Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

This study investigated the effects of oral supplementation with ubiquinone-10 (Q10) (n = 9) compared with a placebo (n = 9) on aerobic and anaerobic physical performance over 22 days of supplementation. The supplementation period included 5 days of high intensity anaerobic training between days 11 and 14. The results demonstrated, that on an anaerobic (10 x 10 s) cycling test, the placebo group showed a significantly greater improvement than the Q10-group after a supplementation and training period (P < 0.001). Further, the Q10 group had a significantly lower increase in total work performed during the seven training sessions (15 x 10 s) compared with the placebo group (P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in maximal blood lactate accumulation during cycling in the both groups, when compared with levels before the training and recovery period. There was significant difference between the groups, either in VO2max determined during running, or in submaximal and peak VO2, Rate of Perceived Exertion, respiratory quotient, blood lactate concentration or heart rate determined during submaximal and maximal cycling. Although significant (P = 0.1-0.3), there was evidence of higher submaximal VO2 (55-80% of VO2peak) during cycling in the Q10-group compared with the placebo group after training and recovery. It is concluded that with high intensity anaerobic training, there was a significantly greater increase in anaerobic performance in the CoQ 10 group compared with the placebo group. Publication Types:

1: Int J Sports Med. 1989 Jun;10(3):169-74.

Decrease in respiratory quotient during exercise following L-carnitine supplementation.

Gorostiaga EM, Maurer CA, Eclache JP.

Association Sport-Biologie, Lyone, France.

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of L-carnitine addition to the diet during submaximal exercise in endurance-trained humans. Ten subjects (VO2max: 62 ml.kg-1.min-1) performed a control test (C) (45 min of cycling at 66% of VO2max) followed by 60 min of recovery in a sitting position. Each subject repeated this trial after 28 days of placebo (P) and L-carnitine (L-C) treatment (double-blinded cross-over design). The dose of each treatment was 2 g/day. There were no differences between the C and P tests. The respiratory quotient was lower (p less than 0.05) with treatment than with P or C during exercise. In addition, oxygen uptake, heart rate, blood glycerol, and resting plasma free fatty acid concentrations presented a significant trend toward higher values in L-C than in the C or P groups. These observations suggest an increased lipid utilization by muscle during exercise in the L-C-treated group. This effect has further possibilities for improving performance during submaximal exercise. Publication Types:

1: Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1985;54(2):131-5.

Effects of L-carnitine loading on the aerobic and anaerobic performance of endurance athletes.

Marconi C, Sassi G, Carpinelli A, Cerretelli P.

L-Carnitine (L-C), a well known physiological carrier across the inner mitochondrial membrane of activated long chain fatty acids and acceptor of acyl groups from acyl-CoA, has been recently synthesised industrially. This has made it possible to study the effects of L-C loading (4 g X d(-1) by mouth over a period of 2 weeks) on the aerobic and anaerobic performance of 6 long distance competitive walkers. As a result of the treatment: 1) mean total, free and esterified serum L-C both at rest and shortly after completing a 120 min walk at about 65% of the individual maximal aerobic power (VO2max) were significantly increased; 2) VO2max increased 6%, from 54.5 +/- 3.7 (S.D.) to 57.8 +/- 4.7 m1O2 X kg(-1) X min(-1) (P less than 0.02); 3) blood lactate concentration (Lab) as a consequence of short bouts repeated exercise (series of 10, 15 and 20 jumps off both feet on a force platform) was unchanged; 4) heart rate, pulmonary ventilation, oxygen consumption, and respiratory quotient in the same conditions as for 1) were unchanged. It is concluded that, in trained athletes, as a consequence of L-C loading VO2max is significantly raised, probably as a result of an activation of substrate flow through the TCA cycle, whereas the lipid contribution to metabolism in prolonged submaximal exercise remains

1: Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1990;61(5-6):486-90.

Comment in: Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1991;62(6):450.

Influence of L-carnitine administration on maximal physical exercise.

Vecchiet L, Di Lisa F, Pieralisi G, Ripari P, Menabo R, Giamberardino MA, Siliprandi N.

Istituto di Fisiopatologia Medica, Universita di Chieti, Italy.

The effects of L-carnitine administration on maximal exercise capacity were studied in a double-blind, cross-over trial on ten moderately trained young men. A quantity of 2 g of L-carnitine or a placebo were administered orally in random order to these subjects 1 h before they began exercise on a cycle ergometer. Exercise intensity was increased by 50-W increments every 3 min until they became exhausted. After 72-h recovery, the same exercise regime was repeated but this time the subjects, who had previously received L-carnitine, were now given the placebo and vice versa. The results showed that at the maximal exercise intensity, treatment with L-carnitine significantly increased both maximal oxygen uptake, and power output. Moreover, at similar exercise intensities in the L-carnitine trial oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production, pulmonary ventilation and plasma lactate were reduced. It is concluded that under these experimental conditions pretreatment with L-carnitine favoured aerobic processes resulting in a more efficient performance. Possible mechanisms producing this effect are discussed. Publication Types: Clinical Trial Randomized Controlled Trial

1: Int J Sport Nutr. 1997 Dec;7(4):298-309.

Effects of a low-dose amino acid supplement on adaptations to cycling training in untrained individuals.

Vukovich MD, Sharp RL, Kesl LD, Schaulis DL, King DS.

Human Performance Laboratory, Wichita State University, KS 67226, USA.

The purpose of this study was to determine if amino acid supplementation influences blood and muscle lactate response to exercise and the time course of the metabolic adaptations to training. Two groups of untrained males (n = 7 each) were given (double-blind) a daily supplement (2.9 g.day-1) containing a mixture of leucine, isoleucine, valine, glutamine, and carnitine (EXP) or 3 g.day-1 of lactose (CON). Following 7 days of supplementation there was no significant change in VO2peak, time to exhaustion (TTX) at 120% VO2peak, or muscle and blood lactate in either EXP or CON. Subjects then initiated 6 weeks of combined aerobic and anaerobic training on a Monark cycle ergometer. It was found that amino acid supplementation had no effect on either blood or muscle lactate accumulation during exercise, while supplementation resulted in a faster adaptation in buffer capacity. Performance during intense exercise was not improved with amino acid supplementation. Publication Types:

When combined with the program pioneered by World champion Wrestler and Best Selling Author Matt Furey Combat Conditioning and the Furey Fat Loss System, Dr. Dave's products significantly enhance not only energy and stamina but also help melt the fat away. I currently take 9 grams of Dr. Dave's Pharmaceutical grad fish oil as well as two daily doses of Regenerizer(tm) and Instant Endurance(tm). I would recommend anyone interested in maximizing their performance and physical health look into what Dr. Dave has to offer.

Thanks Matt for putting your program out there for ordinary folks (non world class athletes) such as myself. Keep kicking arse and taking names!

Gregory S. T. Graham, TX