The effect of six weeks of fish oil supplementation on muscle damage markers in female futsal players

Considering the Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of fish oil (FO) and the prevalence of muscle damage in female futsal players, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of six weeks of FO supplementation on muscle damage markers in female futsal players.

20 female futsal players (age, 22.56±3.58 years; weight, 57.31±5.17 kg; and BMI, 20.56±1.72 kg /m2) were randomly divided to experimental (n = 10) and control (n = 10) groups. The experimental group received FO, and the control group received triglyceride oil for six weeks (three-gram per day). All subjects were tested by the "Yoyo test" after six weeks of FO supplementation and placebo. Serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) enzymes were measured as markers of muscle damage in four phases; at the basic state (before the supplementation), after six weeks' supplementation (before the Yoyo test), immediately, and 24 hours after the Yoyo test. The data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA and Bonferroni using SPSS version 20 software at a significance level of P<0.05.

After six weeks of FO supplementation, the difference in LDH and CK levels between the groups was not significant (P>0.05). Of course, in the within-group comparison, LDH and CK in the experimental group decreased significantly. Also, the changes in LDH and CK in response to the Yoyo test after six weeks of FO supplementation were not significant between the control and experimental groups (P>0.05).

It seems that the six weeks of FO supplementation can't prevent exercise-induced muscle damage in female futsal players.