- Thread:
- Omega-3 Supplementation Attenuates the Production of C-Reactive Protein in Military Personnel During 5 Days of Intense Physical Stress and Nutrional Restriction
- Post:
- Omega-3 Supplementation Attenuates the Production of C-Reactive Protein in Military Personnel During 5 Days of Intense Physical Stress and Nutrional Restriction
- Author:
Teodoro Olivarez
- Posted Date:
- October 28, 2013 5:17 AM
- Status:
- Published
Title
Omega-3 Supplementation Attenuates the Production of C-Reactive Protein in Military Personnel During 5 Days of Intense Physical Stress and Nutrional Restriction
Purpose of Study
The purpose of this study is to see if omega-3 (n-3) supplementation effects on C-reactive protein in military personnel.
Methods and Materials
The study composed of 20 subjects between the ages of 18-20 years of age and were students of the Preparation Nucleus for Reserve Officers (NPOR). All military personnel took part in the same physical exercise program five days a week as part of their training, and had normocaloric diet. At the end of the study the end result ended with 17 subjects, 9 who took the supplement and 8 who took the placebo. At the start of the 4th week of supplementation, the military personnel underwent a five-day military survival boot camp which would be characterized by constant physical exertion throughout the day and night, and nutritional and sleep restrictions. Blood samples to test for C-reactive protein and were taken before the start of supplementation and immediately before, during, and after camp. The physical activities were supervised. Food intake was measured by 24 hour recall method. Subjects also underwent measurements in height, weight, and body weight percentage. In terms of supplementation subjects were given 1000 mg of N-3 PUFA, 180 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), 120 mg of docosahexaenice (DHA) and 700 mg of vehicle gel without caloric level. During the first three weeks the supplement was administered directly to the subject and during the last week it was administered to the subjects by an officer who was a collaborator for the study. Boot camp regimen consisted of 5 days of controlled caloric intake below nutrional requirements, both in calories and nutrional requirements. As stated before blood samples were taken before the start of supplementation, the night before the start of boot camp, the afternoon of the third day of boot camp, and immedicately two hours after boot camp. All this was done by an experienced nursing professional. A single use BD Vacutainer vacuum tubes with 5 ml of blood were sent to lab at Lauro Wanderly University Hospital for analysis. Results were read for tieh creatine kinase using the spectrophotometer, model SP22 and A25 automatic photometer for C-reactive protein.
Summary of Results/Conclusion
Looking at the results there was not change when looking at the weight and body fat percentage. Nutrion survery revealed no difference in the 24 hour recalls. Now looking into the effects of the n-3 supplementation revealed that in the mere five days that the regimen was adopted it promoted a significant reduction in total cholesterol levels compared to the values that were found on the night before the start of the camp. Ck value showed no difference between the supplement and the placebo. There was a lower CRP level in the supplement group rather than the placebo groupl.
What the study reinforce was that there are other avenues that can be studied in regards to cardiovasular and metabolic protection to the protection of individuals exposed to regimens of intense physical activities and/or nutrional inadequacies. These are certain situations that can be found in athletes as well as other individuals in the population. Not only would mlitary personnel would benefit, but the private sector would benefit as well.
Critique of Study
I thought the study was well documented and it shed new light in regards to CRP and CK as well as the important benefits that it has to cardiovascular health. One thing that I noticed though was how they study went from 20 to 17 which might have effected the results a bit, but not to a point where it didn't have a good result. I think it could benefit form a bigger group. There are endless possibilities for this study and it is just finding different ways to incorporate it to sports performance. There is a major benefit of taking these supplements it is just finding other ways to benefit from them. As stated in the journal in future studies it could benefit looking into more biochemical variables such as procytokines and anti-inflammatories, cholesterol sub-fractions, and other markers of muscle damage and oxidative stress, could aid in confirming the results of the study. Other wise it is a great study and a good read.
Practical Applications of the Study
There are so many benefits from taking Omega-3 supplements and we know that it is related to mostly cardiovascular aspects, but this article touches on some different aspects looking at the inflammatory responses of the body to high intense exercises. Yes it did lower total cholesterol levels and with the addition to the exercise program can lead to healtier cardiovascular system, but its interesting to see the other benefits of omega-3s. I am interested to see if there are going to be other studies that focus on the other biochemical variables in terms of muscle damage, oxidative stress, and procytokines. That will only confirm this study.
References
Santos, E., Silva, A., Costa, M., Moura, J., Quirino, E., Franca, G., & Asciutti, L. (2012). Omega-3 supplementation attenuates the production of c-reactive protein in military personnel during 5 days of intense physical stress and nutrional restriction. Biology of Sport, 29(2), 93-99.
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