engleski

Can n-3 PUFA Functional Food Affect Healthy Endothelium in Athletes?

For its potential positive effect on sport performance, N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), are one of often used nutritional supplements of athletes. Beyond its potential beneficial effects on muscles, fatigue and VO2 max consumption, n-3 PUFAs effect on vascular function is widely investigated, particularly on macrocirculation. Even though majority of performed studies reported an increase in post- occlusive reactive hyperemia of brachial artery in healthy subjects after consumption of n-3 PUFAs measured by flow mediated dilation, some studies reported inconsistent results probably due to its heterogeneous design related to the amount and length of n-3 PUFAs intake, as well as type of supplementation. Limited number of studies investigated the effect of n-3 PUFAs consumption on microvascular function, and result of these studies are even more unclear. Recently we have shown significantly enhanced post-occlusive reactive hyperemia of skin microcirculation in young sedentary healthy population who consumed n-3 PUFAs enriched eggs for three weeks. But still, there is a paucity of data on the effect of n-3 PUFAs consumption on microvascular reactivity and endothelial function in particular in athletes. Since we also showed beneficial effects of n-3 PUFAs on inflammation and oxidative stress in sedentary subjects which is one of the possible causes of enhanced microvascular reactivity, it is reasonable to believe it would have similar effect in athletes since acute exercise session leads to incensement of oxidative stress and inflammation. Moreover, new concept of n-3 PUFAs intake in the form of functional food (e.g. n-3 PUFAs enriched hen’s eggs) raises interest, especially since hen’s eggs are indispensable part of sports diet. While there are strong evidences that n-3 PUFA-s consumption can reverse endothelium-dependent vasodilation in cardiovascular diseases, it still remains to elucidate whether they can improve already “healthy” endothelium in athletes and investigate what would be potential mechanisms mediating such effect.

n-3 PUFA ; endothelium ; exercise ; athletes ; functional food

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