The Effect of N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Lung Function and use of Medication in Athletes with Asthma.a Pilot Trial

Asthma is the most frequent chronic disease among young adults, not least in the western societies, with an even higher frequency among elite athletes. Asthma consists of airway inflammation and smooth muscle contraction, normally treated with antiasthma therapy, some of which have side effects. n-3 LCPUFA in fish oil (FO) has antiinflammatory effects, and some studies have shown clinical effects of FO on asthma. We aimed to study if FO has an anti-asthma effect in elite athletes with asthma. The study was a randomized, double-blinded clinical trial. Ten elite athletes with a medical certificate allowing the use of asthma medication, age 15-46 years, were recruited among elite athletes supported by the Team Denmark Organization. All subjects had a positive mannitol test prior to enrollment. Depending on whether they used inhaled corticosteroids or not, the subjects were randomly assigned in pairs to either FO (2 g EPA and 1.3 g DHA) or soy oil capsules (SO) for 8 weeks. Change in forced expiratory volume (FEV1) after exercise, NO excretion, sputum cell count and use of medication were measured before and after intervention. There was a slight trend towards increased exercise-induced decrease in lung function, use of asthma medication and respiratory inflammation in the FO-group, but the changes were neither significant nor clinically relevant.