Author(s): APOSTOLIDIS, A., BOGDANIS, G., APOSTOLIDIS, N., PAPAPANAGIOTOU, A., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS, Country: GREECE, Abstract-ID: 998

INTRODUCTION:
Basketball is a team sport characterized by repeated fast actions, involving short sprints, jumps and changes of direction (McInnes et al., 1995). During a match exercise intensity is high, as indicated by the average heart rate which is around 80 to 90% of the maximum, while the metabolic demands for anaerobic and aerobic energy are also augmented [1,2]. The physiologically demanding nature of a basketball match is evident by marked elevations of blood lactate and non-esterified fatty acids, while metabolic perturbations and muscle microtrauma due to the intense eccentric muscle activity, induce oxidative stress and inflammatory responses which may last for several days [3]. There is evidence that omega 3 supplementation may modify the metabolic responses to heavy eccentric exercise [4]. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation, on blood lactate responses to a basketball match.
METHODS:
The experimental group consisted of 10 basketball players who received an omega-3 supplement consisting of 2 g of eicosapentaenoic acid-EPA and 1 g of docosahexaenoic acid-DHA, daily for five weeks. The control group consisted of 10 basketball players who received a placebo for the corresponding period of time. Each group was divided in two teams, and they played two matches of 40 minutes pure time (5 vs. 5 without substitutions). Capillary samples to measure blood lactate concentration were taken before, at halftime and immediately after the games. Statistical analysis was performed using a two-way mixed model ANOVA with repeated measures (2 groups X 3 sampling points), followed by Tukey’s post-hoc tests.
RESULTS:
The ANOVA did not show any significant differences between the experimental and the control group at baseline lactate measurement (0.9 ± 0.39 vs. 1.1 ± 0.65 mmol/L, p=0.406, respectively). On the contrary, differences between groups were found at the halftime (2.1 ± 0.64 vs. 3.9 ± 1.59 mmol/L, p=0.006, respectively), and at the end of the game (1.6 ± 0.56 vs. 2.7 ± 1.36 mmol/L, p=0.050).
CONCLUSION:
The findings of the present study show that five weeks of omega-3 supplementation result in a decrease in blood lactate responses to a basketball match, as previously seen for heavy eccentric exercise [4].