Effectiveness Of Two Different Forms Of Marine Oil On Muscle Soreness Following Eccentric Exercise: 2757 Board #218 May 29 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

PURPOSE: We have previously shown1 that four weeks of supplementation with PCSO-524®, a marine lipid fraction of the New Zealand green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus), rich in omega-3 fatty acids, attenuates muscle damage and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) following eccentric exercise in untrained men. The present study sought to determine if a blend of 75% PCSO-524® and 25% krill oil (ESPO-572®) will be ‘at least as good’ as PCSO-524® in attenuating DOMS and functional indices of muscle damage during recovery from muscle damaging exercise in untrained men. METHODS: This study was conducted as a randomized, parallel group, double-blind non-inferiority trial. Fifty-one untrained men were randomly assigned to consume 600 mg·d-1 (4 capsules) of either PCSO-524® (n=24) or ESPO-572® (n=27) for 26 d prior to muscle damaging exercise (downhill running), and continued for 72 h following exercise. DOMS, pressure pain threshold (PPT), limb swelling, knee extensor range of motion (ROM), and isometric torque (MVC), were assessed at baseline following supplementation before eccentric exercise, and at 24, 28 and 72 h post-eccentric exercise. For data analysis purposes we included placebo group (olive oil) (n=16) data generated from our previously published work1 that followed an identical study design. RESULTS: ESPO-572® is ‘at least as good’ as PCSO-524®, but both blends were significantly better (p<0.05) than placebo, in reducing DOMS at 24, 48, 72 h following muscle damaging exercise. At 24 and 48 h following the eccentric exercise bout ESPO-572® significantly increased (p<0.05) ROM compared to PCSO-524®. Compared to placebo, ESPO-572® significantly improved (p<0.05) ROM at 24, 48 and 72 h, while PCSO-524® significantly increased (p<0.05) ROM at 48 and 72 h during recovery. There were no significant differences (p<0.05) between ESPO-572® and PCSO-524® for PPT, limb swelling and MVC during recovery from muscle damaging exercise. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that ESPO-572® may represent a useful therapeutic agent for attenuating muscle soreness following eccentric-type exercise in untrained men. 1Mickleborough et al. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (2015) 12:10. Supported by a grant from Pharmalink International Ltd, Hong Kong.