PARANÁ, Brazil—Adding fish oil to a strength training routine boosted muscle strength and function beyond the benefits of the exercise alone in a new study from Parana Federal University in Brazil (Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Jan 4). Researchers found strength training increased muscle strength in elderly women, but adding fish oils supplements caused even greater improvements in muscle strength and functional capacity.
Fish oil, which is rich in omega-3 poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), plays a role in the plasma membrane and cell function of muscles, which may enhance the benefits of training, according to the researchers. Previous studies have shown fish oil supports muscle recovery.
In this study, 45 women (aged 64 ± 1.4 y) were randomly assigned to three groups. One group performed strength training only for three months, whereas the others performed the same strength-training program and received 2 g/d fish oil supplementation for three months or for five months (supplemented two months before training).
The peak torque and rate of torque development for all muscles (knee flexor and extensor, plantar and dorsiflexor) increased from pre- to posttraining in all groups. However, the effect was greater in the both groups that supplemented with the fish oil. Chair-rising performance, the women sat down and rose up from a chair several times in a row, was also higher in the fish oil groups. Fish oil supplementation prior to training did not seem to affect muscle strength or function.
