Essman M, Christifano D, Sullivan DK, Chalise P, Carbuhn A. Assessing Omega-3 Intake in Sport: the Brief Food Frequency Questionnaire and the Omega-3 Index in Collegiate Women Soccer Players.
J Athl Train 2022;
57:1079-1084. [PMID:
35192716 PMCID:
PMC9875705 DOI:
10.4085/1062-6050-0549.21]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT
Omega-3 fatty acids modulate inflammatory processes and are considered beneficial for sport populations, highlighting a need to assess omega-3 intake in a practical manner. Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) are inexpensive, noninvasive tools aimed at evaluating nutrient intakes such as omega-3 fatty acids. In healthy adults, a tailored, brief FFQ for estimating omega-3 intake was associated with the erythrocyte omega-3 fatty acid level, a biomarker for omega-3 tissue status and indicative of intake. However, the association between a brief omega-3 FFQ and erythrocyte levels, particularly the Omega-3 Index (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA], docosahexaenoic acid [DHA], and EPA + DHA), has yet to be explored in a sport population.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between omega-3 intake using a brief FFQ and the Omega-3 Index in collegiate women soccer players.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional study.
SETTING
University sport team.
PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS
Thirty-one National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I collegiate women soccer players.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
The brief omega-3 FFQ assessed dietary omega-3 intake: DHA and EPA. The OmegaQuant blood test measured erythrocyte omega-3 fatty acid (EPA, DHA) and Omega-3 Index (EPA + DHA) levels.
RESULTS
Brief FFQ intakes of EPA, DHA, and EPA + DHA were positively correlated with the erythrocyte EPA (r = 0.48, P = .007), DHA (r = 0.73, P < .001), and Omega-3 Index (r = 0.73, P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS
In a sample of collegiate women soccer players, the brief omega-3 FFQ was correlated with erythrocyte omega-3 fatty acid levels and may offer health practitioners a practical tool for assessing omega-3 intake in this collegiate sport population.
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