Effects of Acute Fish Oil Supplementation on Muscle Function and Soreness After Eccentric Contraction-Induced Muscle Damage.

PURPOSE: The primary aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of acute fish oil (FO) supplementation on indices of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) in young healthy adults.

METHODS

Twenty-two healthy young male and females were randomly assigned to two experimental groups: fish oil (FO) or placebo control (CON). Participants performed a muscle damage protocol consisting of 10 sets of 10 plyometric drop jumps. Vertical jump height, isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque, and systemic inflammation markers were assessed at pre-exercise, immediately post (post-0), post-24, post-48, and post-72 h.

RESULTS

Vertical jump performance and quadriceps peak torque significantly decreased in the CON group at post-0, 24, and 48 h (p < 0.05), while FO group recovered to baseline levels by post 48 h. Hamstring peak torque reductions recovered in the FO group at post-48 h but remained suppressed in the CON group until post-72 h (p < 0.05). Muscle soreness was significantly higher in the CON group compared to the FO group at post-48 h (p < 0.05). Systemic TNF-α levels significantly increased from baseline to post-0, 24, and 48 h in both groups (p < 0.05), with the CON group showing a trend toward incomplete recovery (p = 0.065).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that acute FO administration may modestly aid muscle recovery and reduce muscle soreness following EIMD in healthy young adults while the overall impact may be limited.