The Sport Science Center at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth.
Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City.
J Athl Train. 2019 Jan;54(1):7-11. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-387-18. Epub 2019 Jan 15.
The essential omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3 FAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) exhibit vital biological roles and are critical for cardiovascular and neurologic health. Compared with the general population, football athletes may be at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Further, those same athletes are also exposed to repetitive head impacts, which may lead to long-term neurologic deficits. Both diets high in ω-3 FAs and supplementation with ω-3 FAs have been reported to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and early evidence suggests a potential neuroprotective effect of supplementation.
To determine the (1) erythrocyte content of DHA and EPA, as measured by the Omega-3 Index, expressed as a percentage of total fatty acids, in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I football athletes and (2) distribution across the Omega-3 Index risk zones established for cardiovascular disease: high risk, <4%; intermediate risk, 4% to 8%; and low risk, >8%.
Cross-sectional descriptive study.
Multicenter trial.
Deidentified data including complete erythrocyte fatty acid profile from the 2017-2018 season, age at time of testing, height, weight, and ethnicity were collected from 404 athletes.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Omega-3 Index.
About 34% of athletes (n = 138) had an Omega-3 Index considered high risk (<4%), and 66% (n = 266) had a risk considered intermediate (4%-8%). None had a low-risk Omega-3 Index.
The Omega-3 Index is a simple, minimally invasive test of ω-3 FA status. Our data indicate that football athletes may be deficient in the ω-3 FAs DHA and EPA. The fact that no athlete had an Omega-3 Index associated with low risk suggests football athletes may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease in later life.
必需的ω-3 脂肪酸（ω-3 FAs）二十碳五烯酸（EPA）和二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）具有重要的生物学作用，对心血管和神经系统健康至关重要。与一般人群相比，足球运动员患心血管疾病的风险可能增加。此外，同样的运动员还会受到反复的头部冲击，这可能导致长期的神经缺陷。高 ω-3 FA 饮食和 ω-3 FA 补充都被报道可以降低心血管疾病的风险，早期证据表明补充 ω-3 FA 具有潜在的神经保护作用。
确定（1）国家大学体育协会（NCAA）一级足球运动员红细胞中 DHA 和 EPA 的含量，用 ω-3 指数表示，以总脂肪酸的百分比表示，以及（2）在心血管疾病建立的 ω-3 指数风险区的分布：高风险，<4%；中风险，4%-8%；低风险，>8%。
横断面描述性研究。
多中心试验。
从 2017-2018 赛季收集了 404 名运动员的匿名数据，包括完整的红细胞脂肪酸谱、测试时的年龄、身高、体重和种族，以及完整的红细胞脂肪酸谱、测试时的年龄、身高、体重和种族。
ω-3 指数。
约 34%的运动员（n = 138）的 ω-3 指数被认为是高风险（<4%），66%（n = 266）的风险被认为是中风险（4%-8%）。没有人的 ω-3 指数处于低风险。
ω-3 指数是一种简单、微创的 ω-3 FA 状态测试。我们的数据表明，足球运动员可能缺乏 DHA 和 EPA 等 ω-3 FAs。没有运动员的 ω-3 指数与低风险相关，这表明足球运动员在以后的生活中可能患心血管疾病的风险增加。
