Effects of supplemental fish oil...new study taken from jissn

**Costco77** · 10-18-2010, 02:27 AM

URL Link: http://www.jissn.com/content/7/1/31

Effects of supplemental fish oil on resting metabolic rate, body composition, and salivary cortisol in healthy adults

Eric E Noreen

, Michael J Sass

, Megan L Crowe

, Vanessa A Pabon

, Josef Brandauer

and Lindsay K Averill

Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2010, 7:31doi:10.1186/1550-2783-7-31
Published:8 October 2010
Abstract (provisional)

Background

To determine the effects of supplemental fish oil (FO) on resting metabolic rate (RMR), body composition, and cortisol production in healthy adults.

Method

S: A total of 44 men and women (34+13y, mean+SD) participated in the study. All testing was performed first thing in the morning following an overnight fast. Baseline measurements of RMR were measured using indirect calorimetry using a facemask, and body composition was measured using air displacement plethysmography. Saliva was collected via passive drool and analyzed for cortisol concentration using ELISA. Following baseline testing, subjects were randomly assigned in a double blind manner to one of two groups: 4g/d of Safflower Oil (SO); or 4g/d of FO supplying 1,600mg/d eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 800mg/d docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). All tests were repeated following 6wk of treatment. Pre to post differences were analyzed using a treatment X time repeated measures ANOVA, and correlations were analyzed using Pearson's r.

Results

: Compared to the SO group, there was a significant increase in fat free mass following treatment with FO (FO= +0.5 +/- 0.5kg, SO= -0.1 +/- 1.2kg, p=0.03), a significant reduction in fat mass (FO= -0.5 +/- 1.3kg, SO= +0.2 +/- 1.2kg, p=0.04). and a tendency for a decrease in body fat percentage (FO= -0.4 +/- 1.3% body fat, SO= +0. 3 +/- 1.5% body fat, p=0.08). No significant differences were observed for body mass (FO= 0.0 +/- 0.9kg, SO= +0.2 +/- 0.8kg), RMR (FO= +17 +/- 260kcal, SO= -62 +/- 184kcal) or respiratory exchange ratio (FO= -0.02 +/- 0.09, SO= +0.02 +/- 0.05). There was a tendency for salivary cortisol to decrease in the FO group (FO= -0.064 +/- 0.142ug/dL, SO= +0.016 +/- 0.272ug/dL, p=0.11). There was a significant correlation in the FO group between change in cortisol and change in fat free mass (r = -0.504, p=0.02) and fat mass (r = 0.661, p=0.001) CONCLUSION: 6wk of supplementation with FO significantly increased lean mass and decreased fat mass. These changes were significantly correlated with a reduction in salivary cortisol following FO treatment.

**ArabMuscle** · 10-18-2010, 05:19 AM

Very interesting. I'm assuming the omega-3 content (EPA and DHA) were responsible for this?

**TPT** · 10-18-2010, 11:43 AM

Cool study with moderate sample size and double blind design. Realise the subject took only 4 g of fish oil for 6 weeks. I.e., 400 mg of EPA and 200 mg of DHA. Most of us take much more and over longer intervals. The mechanisms for weight loss are likely due to the correlated reduced cortisol levels. More interesting was the increased lean mass. Reduced cortisol levels affecting lean mass is plausible.

Now imagine if subject exercise program was controlled.

**Costco77** · 10-18-2010, 12:41 PM

Arabmuscle - Yeah, that's what i'm assuming

It's good stuff TPT, yet people underestimate the effectiveness. It should be a daily staple in every diet...I like as much as 6g of of EPA/DHA.

**drfunction** · 10-18-2010, 06:20 PM

Awesome...good stuffl!

**MikeS** · 12-20-2010, 06:39 PM

To not control two of the most important variables (diet & exercise) beggers belief. I dont doubt the benefits of fish oil one bit, but this study is weak. And a correlational analysis simply shows a 'relationship'. It doesnt determine cause and effect (although we know cortisol to be negative for weight loss, but it doesnt singularily cause/inhibit weight loss)

**tmno** · 07-10-2011, 08:54 AM

great info u posted here

**RickRock13** · 07-10-2011, 09:08 AM

Good post and info

**pfunk** · 07-11-2011, 03:13 PM

I've been supplementing with Fish Oil on and off for the last couple of years, using different brands. Some are cheap, some not so.

What brand do you guys use now?

I just got a new one, Wholemega by New Chapter, which is said to be oil strictly from sustainably caught Alaskan Salmon. But it's omega 3 profile is not all that great, and it has alot of omega 9...which I don't know much about.

Wholemega 1000mg

1 serving (2 pills):

Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil - 2000mg total

Omega 3 - 500mg
EPA - 180mg
DHA - 220mg
Other - 100mg

Omega 5 - 1mg
Omega 6 - 140mg
Omega 7 - 100mg
Omega 9 - 660mg

**Sieve** · 07-15-2011, 05:46 PM

Curently using 18 softgels / day of high quality , high epa/dha omega 3 .
Wuhuu

**kallis** · 07-21-2011, 07:05 AM

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**kallis** · 07-23-2011, 03:30 AM

Originally Posted by kallis

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