Research Article

Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation for Reducing Muscle Soreness after Eccentric Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Table 1

Main characteristics of included RCTs.

StudyCountryMean ageGenderCohortsIntervention and controlEccentric exerciseMain outcomesAEs

Corder et al., 2016USA31.9/33.3F14/13O: 3000 mg DHA daily, for 7 d before exercise and 2 d afterwards
C: placebo capsules (corn and soy oil)
T: 4 sets preacher bench biceps curl
W: 120% of subjects’ 1 RM
D: over 4 s in a controlled manner
R: till failure
DOMS, ROM, upper arm circumference, skin temperature, and blood markersNone

DiLorenzo et al., 2014Virginia21.8/21.8M21/20O: 2000 mg DHA daily, for 28 d before exercise
C: placebo capsules
T: 6 sets preacher bench curl
W: 140% of subjects’ 1 RM
D: with the investigators 1-5 counting
R: 10 reps/set
DOMS, ROM, muscle strength, and blood markersNone

Gray et al., 2014UK22.0/23.0M10/10O: 1300 mg EPA and 300 mg DHA daily, for 6 w before exercise
C: placebo capsules (olive oil)
T: 20 sets knee extension
W: NR
D: 0.52 rads/s between 90° and 120°
R: 10 reps/set
DOMS, MVC, and blood markersNR

Houghton and Onambele, 2012UK20.4/20.4F7/10O: 360 mg EPA daily, for 3 w before exercise and 6 w afterwards
C: placebo capsules (lecithin)
T: 4 sets leg flexion and extension walking lunges straight leg deadlift
W: 70% of subjects’ 1 RM
D: within 6 s
R: 10 reps/set
DOMS, muscle strength, and blood markersNR

Jakeman et al., 2017UK25.6/26.2M9/9O: 750 mg EPA and 50 mg DHA, immediately after the exercise
C: placebo capsules (filler oil)
T: 10 sets plyometric drop jump
W: body weight
D: 10 s between each jump
R: 10 reps/set
DOMS, muscle strength, jump performance, and blood markersNR

Lenn et al., 2002USA23.4/23.4M/F7/7O: 1800 mg Omega-3 fatty acid daily, for 30 d before exercise and 7 d afterwards
C: placebo capsules (Western fat blend)
T: arm training
W: subjects’ 1 RM
D: 1 s at 90°/s
R: 50 reps in total
DOMS, MVC, ROM, RANG, upper arm circumference, and blood markersNR

Meamarbashi and Abedini, 2011Iran18.2/18.2M10/10O: 1200 mg purslane extract daily, for 3 d before exercise and 2 d afterwards
C: placebo capsules (lactose powder)
T: 7 sets bench stepping
W: body weight
D: 4 s
R: 75 reps/set
DOMS, ROM, muscle strength, thigh circumference, and blood markersNR

Mickleborough et al., 2015USA21.7/21.5M16/16O: 58 mg EPA and 44 mg DHA and 0.225 mg vitamin E daily, for 26 d before exercise and 4 d afterwards
C: placebo capsules (olive oil)
T: downhill running
W: at -16% grade
D: in total 20 min
R: NR
DOMS, MVC, ROM, PPT, and blood markersNone

Ochi et al., 2017Japan20.7/21.3M10/11O: 600 mg EPA and 260 mg DHA daily, for 8 w before exercise and 5 d afterwards
C: placebo capsules (corn oil)
T: 6 sets preacher bench curl
W: 40% of subjects’ 1 RM
D: 3 s at a constant velocity of 30°/s
R: 10 reps/set
DOMS, MVC, ROM, upper arm circumference, and M-wave latencyNR

Phillips et al., 2003USA22.1/22.1M20/20O: 800 mg DHA and 300 mg tocopherols and 300 mg flavonoids daily, 7 d before exercise and 7 d afterwards
C: placebo capsules (sunflower oil and rice powder)
T: 3 sets arm curl
W: 80% of subjects’ 1 RM
D: over 6 s
R: 10 reps/set
DOMS, ROM, and blood markersNone

Tartibian et al., 2009Germany33.4/33.5M9/18O: 324 mg EPA and 216 mg DHA daily, for 30 d before exercise and 2 d afterwards
C: placebo capsules
T: 7 sets bench stepping
W: body weight
D: 4 s
R: 75 reps/set
DOMS, ROM, and thigh circumferenceNR

Tsuchiya et al., 2016Japan19.4/19.5M12/12O: 600 mg EPA and 260 mg DHA daily, for 8 w before exercise and 5 d afterwards
C: placebo capsules (corn oil)
T: 5 sets elbow flexion
W: 6 RM
D: 3 s at a constant velocity of 30°/s
R: 6 reps/set
DOMS, MVC, ROM, upper arm circumference, and blood markersNR

Cohort size and mean age of subjects were presented as Omega-3 group/control group. M: male; F: female; O: Omega-3 group; C: control group; DHA: docosahexaenoic acids; EPA: eicosapentaenoic acid; RM: repetition maximal; T: type of eccentric exercise; W: weight of eccentric contraction; D: duration of each eccentric contraction; R: repetitions for each set of eccentric exercise; DOMS: delayed onset muscle soreness; MVC: maximal voluntary contraction; ROM: range of motion; AEs: adverse events; NR: not reported.