Effect of Short Term Omega-3 Supplementation on Pulmonary Function after Acute Aerobic Exercise in Athletes with Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm

Aims: Despite many benefits, the sport activities, if they are severe, might affect the athlete’s functioning due respiratory system damages called the exercise-induced bronchospasm. The aim of the study was to investigate the short-term side-effects of omega-3 supplementation consumption on the respiratory functioning after severe aerobic activities in the athletes with exercise-induced bronchospasm.
In the semi-experimental study, 31 male students with mild exercise-induced bronchospasm were studied in Chamran University of Ahwaz in 2015. The subjects, randomly selected based on the study criteria, were divided into two groups including omega-3 (n=15) and control (n=16). 1000mg omega-3 supplementation was daily administrated in omega-3 group for 3 weeks. After an exhaustive activity (Astrand Treadmill Test), the pulmonary functioning was assessed in both group at both pretest and posttest steps. Data was analyzed by SPSS 19 software using dependent T and covariance tests.
Findings: 3-week consumption of omega-3 supplementation did not significantly change the pulmonary indices of persons with exercise-induced bronchospasm (p>0.05). In addition, control and omega-3 groups were not significantly different in the indices (p>0.05).
Daily consumption of 1000mg omega-3 supplementation for 3 weeks does not affect the pulmonary functioning of persons with mild exercise-induced bronchospasm.