Action of Essential Fatty Acids on the Expression of Antioxidant Genes and Athletic Performance

Summary

There are conflicting evidences of the effects of dietary supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on athletic performance. The investigators working hypothesis is based on the polyunsaturated fatty acids, given its pro-oxidative character and also by its action on transcription factors can modulate the antioxidant response and oxidative damage induced by physical activity.The overall objective of the study is to establish situations improving athletic performance and study the oxidative balance by manipulation of feeding patterns and consumption of nutritional supplements and investigate the involved mechanisms.

Conditions

• Oxidative Stress
• Exercise
• Training Season
• Antioxidant Capabilities
• Athletic Performance

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Docosahexaenoic acid diet supplementation

Nine soccer players (19 and 22 years old) took 1 liter/day of one experimental beverage (containing 0.2% olive oil + 0.6% DHA-S Martek). Follow-up 8 weeks. At week 8 an acute exercise season was programed. One blood sample was taken in resting conditions at beginning of the nutritional intervention (week 0, baseline). Another two blood samples were taken at the end of the nutritional intervention, in resting (week 8, pre-exercise) and post-exercise conditions (week 8, post-exercise). Biochemical measures, oxidative damage markers on lipids, proteins and DNA, antioxidant capabilities (enzyme activities and quantity of enzyme protein and gene expression) and inflammatory markers were measured in serum, plasma, erythrocytes, neutrophils and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Placebo supplementation

Six professionals soccer players (19 and 22 years old) took 1 liter/day of placebo beverage (containing 0.8% olive oil). Follow-up 8 weeks. At week 8 an acute exercise season was programed. One blood sample was taken in resting conditions at beginning of the nutritional intervention (week 0, baseline). Another two blood samples were taken at the end of the nutritional intervention, in resting (week 8, pre-exercise) and post-exercise conditions (week 8, post-exercise). Biochemical measures, oxidative damage markers on lipids, proteins and DNA, antioxidant capabilities (enzyme activities and quantity of enzyme protein and gene expression) and inflammatory markers were measured in serum, plasma, erythrocytes, neutrophils and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Instituto de Salud Carlos III

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• University of the Balearic Islands

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

16 Years

Max Age

35 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2011-09-30

Primary Completion

2011-12-31

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations