Improved Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Parameters Are Not Correlated with VO 2peak or Running Economy and Are Not Affected by Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation in Endurance Runners

Zbigniew Jost (), Maja Tomczyk, Maciej Chroboczek, Philip C. Calder and Radosław Laskowski ()
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Zbigniew Jost: Department of Biochemistry, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, 80-336 Gdansk, Poland
Maja Tomczyk: Department of Biochemistry, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, 80-336 Gdansk, Poland
Maciej Chroboczek: Department of Physiology, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, 80-336 Gdansk, Poland
Philip C. Calder: Faculty of Medicine, School of Human Development and Health, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
Radosław Laskowski: Department of Physiology, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, 80-336 Gdansk, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-10

Abstract: Peak oxygen uptake (VO 2peak ) is one of the most reliable parameters of exercise capacity; however, maximum effort is required to achieve this. Therefore, alternative, and repeatable submaximal parameters, such as running economy (RE), are needed. Thus, we evaluated the suitability of oxygen uptake efficiency (OUE), oxygen uptake efficiency plateau (OUEP) and oxygen uptake efficiency at the ventilatory anaerobic threshold (OUE@VAT) as alternatives for VO 2peak and RE. Moreover, we evaluated how these parameters are affected by endurance training and supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids. A total of 26 amateur male runners completed a 12-week endurance program combined with omega-3 fatty acid supplementation or medium-chain triglycerides as a placebo. Before and after the intervention, the participants were subjected to a treadmill test to determine VO 2peak , RE, OUE, OUEP and OUE@VAT. Blood was collected at the same timepoints to determine eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in erythrocytes. OUE correlated moderately or weakly with VO 2peak (R 2 = 0.338, p = 0.002) and (R 2 = 0.226, p = 0.014) before and after the intervention, respectively. There was a weak or no correlation between OUEP, OUE@VAT, VO 2peak and RE despite steeper OUE, increased OUEP and OUE@VAT values in all participants. OUE parameters cannot be treated as alternative parameters for VO 2peak or RE and did not show changes following supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids in male amateur endurance runners.

Keywords: peak oxygen uptake; oxygen uptake efficiency plateau; running economy; omega-3 fatty acids; endurance runners (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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