Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation affects tryptophan metabolism during a 12-week endurance training in amateur runners: a randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 4102 - 10
• Main Authors: Tomczyk, Maja, Bidzan-Wiącek, Monika, Kortas, Jakub Antoni, Kochanowicz, Magdalena, Jost, Zbigniew, Fisk, Helena L., Calder, Philip C., Antosiewicz, Jędrzej
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 19.02.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 3-hydroxykynurenine; 631/45; 692/53; Dietary Supplements; Endurance Training; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - metabolism; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Interleukin 6; Kynurenic acid; Male; Metabolism; Metabolites; Mood; multidisciplinary; Neuroprotection; Neurotoxicity; Omega-3 fatty acids; Picolinic acid; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Statistical analysis; Supplements; Training; Triglycerides; Tryptophan; Tryptophan - metabolism; Xanthurenic acid; 3-hydroxykynurenine; Picolinic acid; Endurance training; Tryptophan metabolism; Omega-3 fatty acids
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54112-x

The effects of long-term omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation during endurance training on tryptophan (Trp) metabolism and mental state of healthy individuals have not been evaluated so far. Concentrations of plasma Trp, its metabolites and IL-6 were assessed in 26 male runners before and after a 12-week training program combined with supplementation of n-3 PUFAs (O-3 + TRAIN group) or medium chain triglycerides (MCTs; TRAIN group). After the 12-week program participants' mood before and after stress induction was also assessed. The effects of the same supplementation protocol were evaluated also in 14 inactive subjects (O-3 + SEDEN group). Concentrations of 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) and picolinic acid (PA) significantly increased only in the O-3 + TRAIN group ( p  = 0.01; η p 2 = 0.22 and p  = 0.01; η p 2 = 0.26). Favorable, but not statistically significant changes in the concentrations of kynurenic acid (KYNA) ( p  = 0.06; η p 2 = 0.14), xanthurenic acid (XA) ( p  = 0.07; η p 2 = 0.13) and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HAA) ( p  = 0.06; η p 2 = 0.15) and in the ratio of neurotoxic to neuroprotective metabolites were seen also only in the O-3 + TRAIN group. No changes in mood and IL-6 concentrations were observed in either group. Supplementation with n-3 PUFAs during endurance training has beneficial effects on Trp's neuroprotective metabolites. Trial registry : This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with identifier NCT05520437 (14/07/2021 first trial registration and 2018/31/N/NZ7/02962 second trial registration).