Erythrocyte Omega-3 Fatty Acid Content in Elite Athletes in Response to Omega-3 Supplementation: A Dose-Response Pilot Study

Table 2

Erythrocyte fatty acids profile of the participants as a function of the dose through the study.

Mean (SD)	2G (N:9)			3G (N:11)			Control (N:6)			Control versus 2G/3G
	Basal	Post	p≤	Basal	Post	p≤	Basal	Post	p≤	Basal	Post
SFA	44.7 (1.1)	45.6 (1.5)	NS	45.2 (0.7)	45.8 (0.8)	0.05	45.4 (0.9)	45.8 (0.8)	NS	NS	NS
MUFA	20.9 (1.6)	21.3 (1.2)	NS	20.0 (0.9)	21.0 (1,0)	0.05	21.0 (1.8)	21.9 (1.8)	NS	NS	NS
PUFA	34.4 (1.5)	33.6 (1.5)	NS	34.8 (0.9)	34.0 (1.2)	0.05	33.5 (1.4)	32.3 (1.4)	0.05	NS	0,05
n-6	27.9 (1.8)	25.2 (1.4)	0.01	28.6 (1.4)	25.4 (1.6)	0.001	27.5 (1.6)	26.7 (1.2)	NS	NS	0,05
n-3	6.4 (1.1)	8.4 (0.9)	0.001	6.3 (1.2)	8.6 (1.0)	0.001	6.1 (0.9)	5.6 (1.0)	NS	NS	0,001
n-6/n-3	4.5 (1.1)	3.0 (0.4)	0.01	4.7 (1.0)	3.0 (0.5)	0.001	4.6 (1.0)	4.9 (1.1)	NS	NS	0,01
O3Ix	5.0 (0.8)	6.8 (0.7)	0.001	4.9 (1,0)	7.0 (0,8)	0.001	4.8 (0,9)	4.4 (0,9)	NS	NS	0,001

Group 2G, two oil gums daily; 3G, three oil gums daily. SFA, saturated fatty acid; MUFA, monounsaturated fatty acid; PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acid; n-6, Omega-6; n-3, Omega-3; and O3Ix, Omega-3 Index.