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An evaluation of omega-3 status and intake in canadian elite rugby 7s players
Armstrong A. Anzalone A.J. Pethick W. Murray H. Dahlquist D.T. Askow A.T. Heileson J.L. Hillyer L.M. Ma D.W.L. Oliver J.M.
Armstrong A.
Anzalone A.J.
Pethick W.
Murray H.
Dahlquist D.T.
Askow A.T.
Heileson J.L.
Hillyer L.M.
Ma D.W.L.
Oliver J.M.
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MDPI
Date
2021
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Abstract
Background: EPA and DHA n-3 FA play crucial roles in both neurological and cardiovascular health and high dietary intakes along with supplementation suggest potential neuroprotection and concussion recovery support. Rugby athletes have a high risk of repetitive sub-concussive head impacts which may lead to long-term neurological deficits, but there is a lack of research looking into n-3 FA status in rugby players. We examined the dietary n-3 FA intake through a FFQ and n-3 FA status by measuring the percentage of n-3 FA and O3I in elite Canadian Rugby 7s players to show distribution across O3I risk zones; high risk, <4%; intermediate risk, 4 to 8%; and low risk, >8%. Methods: n-3 FA profile and dietary intake as per FFQ were collected at the beginning of the 2017–2018 Rugby 7s season in male (n = 19; 24.84 ± 2.32 years; 95.23 ± 6.93 kg) and female (n = 15; 23.45 ± 3.10 years; 71.21 ± 5.79 kg) athletes. Results: O3I averaged 4.54% ± 1.77, with female athlete scores slightly higher, and higher O3I scores in supplemented athletes (4.82% vs. 3.94%, p = 0.183), with a greater proportion of non-supplemented athletes in the high-risk category (45.5% vs. 39.1%). Dietary intake in non-supplemented athletes did not meet daily dietary recommendations for ALA or EPA + DHA compared to supplemented athletes. Conclusions: Overall, despite supplementation, O3I score remained in the high-risk category in a proportion of athletes who met recommended n-3 FA dietary intakes, and non-supplemented athletes had a higher proportion of O3I scores in the high-risk category, suggesting that dietary intake alone may not be enough and athletes may require additional dietary and n-3 FA supplementation to reduce neurological and cardiovascular risk. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Contents
Subject
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
Concussion
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
Head impacts
Rugby
Sub-concussion
Concussion
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
Head impacts
Rugby
Sub-concussion
Subject(s)
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Genre
Description
Format
Department
Kinesiology