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26.04.2023

Fish oil supplementation increases athletes' resting energy expenditure by ten percent

If athletes control their appetite, they may be able to lose body fat faster if they take 2 large fish oil capsules daily. Supplementation with extra omega-3 fatty acids increases their daily calorie consumption at rest by more than ten percent.

Study
Researchers from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in Iran divided 36 professional athletes, who were active in national teams, into 2 equally sized groups. The athletes in one group took a placebo daily for 3 weeks, while the athletes in the other group took 2 capsules of fish oil daily.

You see the supplement the researchers used was Omega 3 from Zahravi Pharmaceutical. The athletes received 2 grams of fish oil daily via the capsules. 360 milligrams of that was EPA, 240 milligrams DHA.

Results
Fish oil supplementation resulted in an increase in resting calorie expenditure. After 3 weeks of supplementation, the athletes consumed 220 kilocalories more at rest than before the supplementation started. That means that fish oil supplementation increased basal metabolic rate by 10.6 percent.

Click on the table for a larger version.

The figure above shows how fish oil supplementation increased calorie consumption. The genes for UCP2 and PPAR-gamma started working harder. UCPs ensure that cells use their energy less efficiently, PPAR-gamma is a cellular sensor for fat.

If cells 'see' fat, they absorb more energy.

In theory, this means that fish oil supplementation can promote fat loss. Although several studies make this possibility plausible, the researchers cannot draw that conclusion from the data they present in this publication. They noticed that fish oil supplementation also increased their appetite. The appetite for sweets in particular increased.

Source:
BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2021 May 8;13(1):48.

More:
Fish oil supplement can make you fitter, slimmer and more muscular 05.02.2016
Your body burns more calories after a meal with fish oil 06.03.2012
Six weeks of fish oil: lose a pound of fat and gain a pound of lean body mass 12.11.2010
Fish oil capsules reduce fat rolls 01.11.2008

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