Journal Article

The Effect of Krill Oil Supplementation on Exercise Performance and Markers of Immune Function

McGovern, Niall, Thompson, Keith, Da Boit, Mariasole, Brazaite, Goda, Gray, Stuart Robert, Mastalurova, Ina

2015

Overview

Krill oil is a rich source of the long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which may alter immune function after exercise. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of krill oil supplementation on post exercise immune function and performance. Nineteen males and 18 females (age: 25.8 ± 5.3 years; mean ± S.D.) were randomly assigned to 2 g/day of krill oil (n = 18) or placebo (n = 19) supplementation for 6 weeks. A maximal incremental exercise test and cycling time trial (time to complete set amount of work) were performed pre-supplementation with the time trial repeated post-supplementation. Blood samples collected pre- and post- supplementation at rest, and immediately, 1 and 3h post-exercise. Plasma IL-6 and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentrations and, erythrocyte fatty acid composition were measured. Natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxic activity and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17 and IFNγ production were also measured. No effects of gender were noted for any variable. PBMC IL-2 and NK cell cytotoxic activity were greater (P < 0.05) 3h post exercise in the krill oil compared to the control group. Plasma IL-6 and TBARS, PBMC IL-4, IL-10, IL-17 and IFNγ production, along with performance and physiological measures during exercise, were not different between groups. Six weeks of krill oil supplementation can increase PBMC IL-2 production and NK cell cytotoxic activity 3h post-exercise in both healthy young males and females. Krill oil does not modify exercise performance.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Adult / Animals / Biomarkers - metabolism / Blood / Case-Control Studies / Cell Death - drug effects / Cytokines / Cytotoxicity / Dietary Supplements / Docosahexaenoic acid / Eicosapentaenoic acid / Erythrocytes / Erythrocytes - drug effects / Erythrocytes - metabolism / Euphausiacea / Euphausiacea - chemistry / Exercise / Exercise - physiology / Fatty acid composition / Fatty acids / Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology / Female / Females / Fish oils / Genetic aspects / Humans / Immune response / Immunity - drug effects / Interleukin 10 / Interleukin 17 / Interleukin 2 / Interleukin 4 / Interleukin 6 / Interleukin-6 - blood / Killer Cells, Natural - drug effects / Killer Cells, Natural - metabolism / Krill / Male / Males / Medicine / Natural killer cells / Nutrition / Nutritional aspects / Oil / Oxidative stress / Peripheral blood mononuclear cells / Physiological aspects / Placebos / Polyunsaturated fatty acids / Red blood cells / Rodents / Sports medicine / Studies / Supplementation / Supplements / Thiobarbituric acid / Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances - metabolism / Time Factors / γ-Interferon