The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on a biomarker of head trauma in NCAA football athletes: a multi-site, non-randomized study.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Non-randomized controlled cohort study comparing two collegiate football teams.
PubMed 34579748 · doi:10.1186/s12970-021-00461-1
What was done
A multi-site, non-randomized trial evaluated two NCAA American-style football teams across pre-season and regular season. One team (n = 31) received daily supplementation with an omega-3 formulation (2000 mg DHA, 560 mg EPA, 320 mg DPA), while the second team (n = 35) received no supplement and served as the control. Blood was drawn at specific time points tied to changes in physical contact intensity to measure plasma omega-3 fatty acids, the omega-3 index (O3I), and serum neurofilament light (Nf-L), a biomarker of axonal injury. Group differences were evaluated using mixed-model ANOVA.
What was found
Compared to controls, supplemented athletes showed large increases in plasma EPA (p < .001, d = 1.71) and DHA (p < .001, d = 2.10), increased O3I (p < .001, d = 2.16), an improved EPA:AA ratio (p = .001, d = 0.83), and a decreased omega-6:omega-3 ratio (p < .001, d = 1.80). Omega-3 supplementation attenuated elevations in serum Nf-L (p = .024). In contrast, the unsupplemented control group showed significant elevations in Nf-L from baseline at multiple in-season points (T2, T3, and T4; p range < .001 to .005, d range = 0.59 to 0.85).
Why it matters
Repetitive subconcussive head impacts during a competitive season regularly elevate biomarkers of axonal strain. These findings suggest that combined EPA, DPA, and DHA supplementation may provide neuroprotective buffering against repetitive impact-associated axonal injury.
Limits
Allocation was by whole team rather than randomized individual assignment, introducing potential confounding by team-specific practice intensity, hit volume, position distributions, or lifestyle factors. The study was open-label without a placebo control, had a relatively small sample size (n = 66), and evaluated only a blood-based biomarker rather than clinical, cognitive, or neuroimaging outcomes.
Cited by
- supports Studies in collegiate American football players show that daily supplementation with a few grams of omega-3 fatty acids reduces blood neurofilament light chain accumulation across a season.