Evidence mapPaperPMID 40933262Full record

ArticleFrontiers in nutrition2025

Six weeks of either EPA-rich or DHA-rich Omega-3 supplementation alters submaximal exercise physiology in endurance trained male amateurs.

Andrew Blannin, George Boulton, Frank Thielecke

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Andrew BlanninSchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
George BoultonSchool of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Frank ThieleckeDepartment of Health Promotion, Swiss Distance University of Applied Sciences, Brig, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Supplementation with Omega-3 fatty acids such as Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and/or Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have been shown to lower submaximal exercise heart rate (HR) and whole-body oxygen consumption along with other positive exercise physiology adaptations. However, the impact of supplementation on exercise physiology is inconsistent. This could be due to existing study heterogeneity, including inconsistent use of EPA or DHA supplements. The current study aimed to investigate if EPA-rich or DHA-rich supplements are equally efficient at modifying physiological responses to submaximal exercise and potentially improving performance. Methods: Fifty-five endurance trained amateurs participated in a submaximal exercise test followed by a 24 km time trial (TT) before and after a six-week supplementation period. Participants were supplemented with either 3 g/day EPA-rich fish oil, DHA-rich algae oil, or a coconut oil placebo. Omega-3 index, submaximal exercising HR, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and TT performance were all assessed. Results: The EPA-rich and DHA-rich supplements significantly increased the Omega-3 index, whereas the placebo supplement had no effect. Statistically significant changes between pre-and post-supplementation were found in submaximal exercise physiology. Both EPA-rich and DHA-rich supplementation lowered submaximal exercising HR (∆ = -4, Conclusion: This study adds further evidence that both EPA and DHA can alter submaximal exercise physiology, but further research is required to determine their effects on exercise performance outcomes.

Indexed as

DHAEPAheart rateOmega-3 indexperformancesubmaximal exercise

Identifiers

PMID40933262
PMCPMC12417169

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.