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Effects of Acute Fish Oil Supplementation on Muscle Function and Soreness After Eccentric Contraction-Induced Muscle Damage.

  • 2025-10-29
  • Nutrients 17(21)
    • Sang-Rok Lee
    • Dean Directo
    • Yangmi Kang
    • Joshua Stein
    • Mason Calvert
    • Yong Woo An
    • Do-Houn Kim

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population
22 healthy young male and females
Methods
Randomly assigned to two experimental groups: fish oil (FO) or placebo control (CON). Participants performed a muscle damage protocol consisting of 10 sets of 10 plyometric drop jumps.
Blinding
Double-blind
Duration
72 h
Funding
Unclear
  • Rigorous Journal

Purpose

The primary aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of acute fish oil (FO) supplementation on indices of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) in young healthy adults.

Methods

Twenty-two healthy young male and females were randomly assigned to two experimental groups: fish oil (FO) or placebo control (CON). Participants performed a muscle damage protocol consisting of 10 sets of 10 plyometric drop jumps. Vertical jump height, isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque, and systemic inflammation markers were assessed at pre-exercise, immediately post (post-0), post-24, post-48, and post-72 h.

Results

Vertical jump performance and quadriceps peak torque significantly decreased in the CON group at post-0, 24, and 48 h (p < 0.05), while FO group recovered to baseline levels by post 48 h. Hamstring peak torque reductions recovered in the FO group at post-48 h but remained suppressed in the CON group until post-72 h (p < 0.05). Muscle soreness was significantly higher in the CON group compared to the FO group at post-48 h (p < 0.05). Systemic TNF-α levels significantly increased from baseline to post-0, 24, and 48 h in both groups (p < 0.05), with the CON group showing a trend toward incomplete recovery (p = 0.065).

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that acute FO administration may modestly aid muscle recovery and reduce muscle soreness following EIMD in healthy young adults while the overall impact may be limited.

Research Insights

  • Fish Oil→Improved Isometric Maximal Voluntary Contraction Torque

    Hamstring peak torque reductions recovered in the FO group at post-48 h but remained suppressed in the CON group until post-72 h (p < 0.05).

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate
    Dose
    not specified
  • Fish Oil→Improved Vertical Jump Performance

    Vertical jump performance and quadriceps peak torque significantly decreased in the CON group at post-0, 24, and 48 h (p < 0.05), while FO group recovered to baseline levels by post 48 h.

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate
    Dose
    not specified
  • Fish Oil→Reduced Muscle Soreness

    Muscle soreness was significantly higher in the CON group compared to the FO group at post-48 h (p < 0.05).

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    not specified
  • Fish Oil→Reduced Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha

    Systemic TNF-α levels significantly increased from baseline to post-0, 24, and 48 h in both groups (p < 0.05), with the CON group showing a trend toward incomplete recovery (p = 0.065).

    Effect
    Neutral
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    not specified
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