Merits of Fish Oil Supplements for Weight-Lifters Examined in New Study
24 Mar 2016 --- The effect of fish oil supplements on muscle growth has been investigated by a team of Scottish academics, revealing that the tablets do not give gym-goers an advantage in the weight room.
Health and Exercise Science researchers from University of Stirling, Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, joined forces with experts from the Institute for Aquaculture to test whether the capsules enhance the muscle’s ability to grow at an increased rate.
Their findings, published in the journal Physiological Reports, reveal that fish oil supplementation makes no significant difference to muscle growth in healthy, resistance trained young men.
Muscle biopsies were taken before and after the trial to assess how much of the omega 3 fats – thought to be the most important component of the fish oil for muscle – were taken up by the muscle cells.
“Working with our colleagues in the Institute for Aquaculture, we discovered there was no significant difference in the rate at which muscle adds new protein after exercise between participants who took the control capsule of coconut oil and those who ingested the fish oil supplements. This finding suggests that omega 3 capsules do not give you the advantage in the gym that many have suggested over the past few years.”
“The next stage is to focus on the response in people of varying ages and inactivity as this may identify a receptiveness to the supplement for individuals who have less established muscle mass and strength and different metabolic responses as a result.
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