August 29, 2024

UOW and NRLW Dragons team up for research into the impact of Omega-3 on performance

Fatty acids offer enormous potential for sports nutrition

The University of Wollongong’s (UOW) Graduate School of Medicine has teamed up with the Dragon’s NRLW team to explore the take-up of nutritional advice centred around Omega-3 fatty acid consumption.

This collaboration aims to improve performance and recovery outcomes for the players, showcasing the real-world application of cutting-edge nutritional research.

Omega-3 fatty acids are well-known to have extensive health benefits. These essential fats play a crucial role in heart health by reducing heart rate, blood pressure, triglycerides, and the risk of heart disease and stroke. Their anti-inflammatory properties help manage chronic conditions like arthritis and mitigate the risk of chronic diseases.

While they are found in a variety of foods, it is the marine-based sources of Omega-3s, such as salmon, tuna and mackerel, that contain the most powerful forms of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) fats. These fatty acids are actually consumed by the fish in the form of algae, which is another dietary choice for vegan or vegetarian-based athletes who want to optimise their intake.

For athletes, evidence from laboratory research indicates that Omega-3 fatty acid DHA is preferentially  taken up into the membranes of heart, muscle and brain cells. At optimal intake this can have tangible benefits in supporting these body systems through improved cell recovery. For the athlete this can translate to reducing muscle and joint soreness or improved heart rate recovery. The challenge, however, has been to determine the efficacy of Omega-3 supplementation in real-world scenarios, particularly among elite athletes.

The collaboration with the Dragons provided an opportunity to translate laboratory findings into practical applications, with the athletes supported to begin an Omega-3 program designed to maximise the benefits.

Dr Michael Macartney, Senior Lecturer at the Graduate School of Medicine, is undertaking a broad study of Omega-3 performance nutrition and across more than 30 different sports. His research uses a small blood sample to determine exactly how much Omega-3 EPA and DHA the athletes are consuming and storing in their membranes.

“We have strong evidence in the lab now that Omega-3 fatty acids are benefiting recovery and that they benefit the heart when people are exercising,” Dr Macartney said.

“What this study explored was what happens if we go outside the lab and we provide an Omega-3 supplement program to elite athletes in the real world. We asked, ‘How many athletes would engage and actually follow the program to get the best changes in their Omega-3 content of their body cells?’”

Dr Gregory Peoples, Senior Lecturer in Physiology at the Graduate School of Medicine, highlighted the significance of this practical application.

“This study has been able to confirm the amount of Omega-3 EPA and DHA that an elite athlete needs to be consuming on a daily basis to optimise their body’s cell membranes. We also know that athletes, like the rest of the community, are not consuming nearly enough of these essential Omega-3 fatty acids. We now have a tangible way of using a blood biomarker to help optimise the intake of both EPA and DHA for each athlete.”

^{From left, UOW PhD candidate Ryan Anthony, Dragons NRLW player Tara McGrath, Dr Greg Peoples, sports dietitian Nicola Jaffrey, and Dr Mike Macartney.} 

Historically, nutrition research has focused on male athletes, neglecting the dietary needs relating to Omega-3s, of female athletes. This study reveals a gap in nutritional education, as both male and female elite rugby league athletes exhibit suboptimal Omega-3 levels due to habitual dietary patterns.

Nicola Jaffrey, Sports Dietitian advising the Dragons, who completed her undergraduate degree and Master of Nutrition and Dietetics at UOW, led the implementation of the supplement program with players.

“The team reported last season that a couple of the players who were consistent with their Omega-3 supplements really noticed a difference in how they recovered, particularly in the soreness in their joints, and I've had that feedback from some of the NRL [men’s] players as well that they really feel that it helps them from that respect,” Ms Jaffrey said.  

“The other thing that we're really interested in is the protective benefits for concussion. In rugby league, we're trying to do everything we can to combat concussion. It’s a risk vs reward scenario and there's very little risk to supplementing with Omega-3s but there is potentially a big reward.”  

The emerging role of Omega-3 DHA for brain health offers enormous potential. Dr Peoples said the nerve cells also prefer DHA as the fatty acid to make up their membranes, with protective effects for brain. 

“The early evidence from North America has suggested that optimising the Omega-3 DHA intake in college NFL athletes, who frequently experience sub-concussive brain injury, can reduce the extent of brain inflammation over the course of a season. We have recently teamed up with some American colleagues to look at this more closely, and in an Australian context.”   

However, Ms Jaffrey did note some resistance to supplementation, primarily due to the size of the fish oil capsules and the required dosage. To address this, alternatives like piercing the capsules and adding the contents to smoothies were suggested.

“My aim when working with athletes is to make them self-sufficient and build their skills to make really good decisions about how they fuel their bodies.”

The collaboration between UOW and the Dragons exemplifies the impactful alignment of academic research with practical applications in sports nutrition, paving the way for future studies and enhanced athlete well-being.