4 Week Fish Oil Supplementation May Help Joint Flexibility

Fish oil is rich in the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). A new study has found that supplementation with fish oil for 4 weeks may help joint flexibility and reduce muscle fiber damage.

Twenty-two untrained males participated in the study. They were given a fish oil supplement containing 600 mg of EPA and 260 mg of DHA or a placebo daily for 4 weeks. At the end of the study period, they performed 60 eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors. The researchers assessed changes in maximal voluntary contraction torque, range of motion (ROM), upper arm circumference, muscle soreness, and levels of creatine kinase before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 1, 2, 3, and 5 days after exercise.

The participants in the fish oil group had significantly higher range of motion compared to the placebo group. They also had significantly lower amounts of creatine kinase after exercise. Creatine kinase levels are used to measure damage to muscle fibers. No differences were seen in maximal voluntary contractions torque, upper arm circumference or muscle soreness.

The study was conducted by researchers from Meiji Gakuin University. It was published on March 1, 2021 in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.