Along with evaluating the results of the dietary supplements on the omega-3 index (O3I), the researchers assessed adjustments in physique composition, as earlier analysis means that there could also be helpful results on each lean and fats mass. Over the course of the 12-week research interval, nevertheless, the dietary supplements “didn’t meaningfully alter physique composition.”
“The stepwise trajectory in O3I, approaching optimum (> 8%) ranges by week 8, underscores the potential and significance of sustained long-term dietary habits change, in step with many international well being suggestions for significant biomarker adjustments,” researchers from the College of Wollongong in Australia wrote in Efficiency Diet.
Omega-3s for sports activities and weight administration
EPA and DHA are more and more acknowledged for his or her function in enhancing athletic efficiency attributable to their potential to assist muscle and coronary heart operate, in addition to lowering irritation. They could additionally probably mitigate the results of head trauma involved sports activities.
Harry Rice, vp of regulatory and scientific affairs at The World Group for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED), informed Nutraingredients that, to this point, the outcomes of research investigating the performance-enhancing advantages of omega-3s have been blended and should rely upon the inhabitants, for instance elite athletes versus weekend warriors.
“Whereas I believe it’s too early to make sport-specific suggestions, I do suppose that athletes require extra omega-3s than the overall inhabitants when their sport(s) locations further bodily calls for on their our bodies,” he mentioned.
“Based mostly on what I learn about omega-3s and the outcomes I’ve seen so far, if I used to be concerned in a concussive sport, I wouldn’t hesitate to extend my omega-3 consumption to reap the potential neuroprotective advantages.”
Reflecting on omega-3s as weight administration merchandise, Dr. Rice mentioned, “There may be equivocal proof that EPA/DHA omega-3s can modulate body weight and physique composition in all populations, however the impact(s) is modest and appears to be brief time period. The most effective outcomes are within the basic inhabitants when train is mixed with omega-3s, however the advantages appear to be extra associated to the train than the omega-3s.”
“Whereas I wouldn’t take an omega-3 complement particularly for weight administration or to vary my physique composition, due to the wide selection of advantages related to EPA/DHA, everybody throughout the lifespan must be ingesting omega-3s frequently by consuming fatty fish and/or taking a complement.”
Research particulars
The double-blind, placebo-controlled research pair-matched 38 bodily educated adults to eat fish-derived or algal microencapsulated docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as chewable tablets provided by Nu-Mega Elements in Australia or a placebo.
Members consumed seven tablets every day, break up throughout two meals, for 12 weeks.
The fish-derived tablets contained 736 mg/d DHA and 165 mg/d EPA, and the algal tablets delivered 694 mg/d DHA and 24 mg/d EPA in triglyceride type.
Researchers performed blood checks to evaluate fatty acid profiles and used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans to guage physique composition.
Physique composition remained unaffected by the supplementation, though the omega-3 index elevated till week eight, after which it plateaued.
“Importantly, the subgroup evaluation indicated that the supply of DHA, whether or not derived from fish or algae, didn’t affect entire blood DHA ranges with close to similar will increase within the fish (+ 1.95%) and algal (+ 1.92%) subgroups at week 12,” the researchers famous.
Supply: Efficiency Diet, 2025, 1, 6. doi: 10.1186/s44410-025-00006-6. “A dietary achievable dose of microencapsulated DHA will increase the Omega-3 Index with out affecting physique composition in bodily educated female and male adults”. Authors: A.R. McLennan et al.
