Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid on a Biomarker of Head Trauma in American Football
Oliver JM, Jones MT, Kirk KM, Gable DA, Repshas JT, Johnson TA, Andréasson U, Norgren N, Blennow K, Zetterberg H
Medicine and science in sports and exercise · 73 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Randomized controlled trial (indexed by PubMed)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Funding not disclosed
Publication
- Published
- 2016-01-13 · Med Sci Sports Exerc · vol. 48 · issue 6 · pp. 974–982
- Publisher
- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- Cited
- 109 citations · more than 96% of similar papers · 5.4× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 43 works
- Access
- Open access (repository copy)
- Research areas
- Fatty Acid Research and Health · Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans research · Seaweed-derived Bioactive Compounds
- Keywords
- American football, Docosahexaenoic acid, Football, Biomarker, Placebo, Medicine, Athletes, Concussion, Internal medicine, Traumatic brain injury, Poison control, Endocrinology, Injury prevention, Physical therapy, Fatty acid, Polyunsaturated fatty acid, Biology, Pathology, Psychiatry, Biochemistry, Environmental health
- MeSH
- humans, brain concussion, neurofilament proteins, docosahexaenoic acids, double-blind method, football, dietary supplements, biomarkers
10 authors
From US, GB, SE
- Jonathan Michael OliverTexas Christian University; University College London; University of Gothenburg
- Margaret T. JonesUniversity College London; University of Gothenburg
- K. Michele KirkUniversity College London; University of Gothenburg
- David A. GableUniversity College London; University of Gothenburg
- Justin RepshasUniversity College London; University of Gothenburg
- Torie A. JohnsonUniversity College London; University of Gothenburg
Abstract
Purpose
American football athletes are exposed to subconcussive impacts over the course of the season resulting in elevations in serum neurofilament light (NFL), a biomarker of axonal injury. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been reported to reduce axonal trauma associated with traumatic brain injury in rodent models. However, the optimal dose in American football athletes is unknown. This study examined the effect of differing doses of DHA on serum NFL over the course of a season of American football.
Methods
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design, 81 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I American football athletes were assigned to ingest either 2, 4, 6 g·d of DHA or placebo. Blood was sampled at specific times over the course of 189 d, coincident with changes in intensity, hours of contact, and likely changes in head impacts. Standardized magnitude-based inference was used to define outcomes.
Results
DHA supplementation increased plasma DHA in a dose-dependent manner (2 g·d: mean difference from baseline; ±90% CL; 2 g·d: 1.3; ±0.6; 4 g·d: 1.6; ±0.7%; 6 g·d: 2.8; ±1.2%). Serum NFL increased to a greater extent in starters (area under the curve, 1995 ± 1383 pg·mL) versus nonstarters (1398 ± 581 pg·mL; P = 0.024). Irrespective of dose, supplemental DHA likely attenuated serum NFL coincident with increases in serum NFL by likely small and moderate magnitude (effect size = 0.4-0.7).
Conclusions
Findings from this study, the first large-scale study examining potential prophylactic use of DHA in American football athletes, include identification of optimal dose of DHA, suggesting a neuroprotective effect of DHA supplementation.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
Community trust
Loading…
How much do you trust this study's findings?
Comments
Sign in to rate, comment on or flag this study.Sign inSomething wrong here?
Flag this study if its information, labels or funding look wrong. An editor reviews every flag.
Sign in to rate, comment on or flag this study.Sign inEducational information about published research. Not medical advice, and not a recommendation to start or stop anything.