The importance of the arachidonic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid (AA/EPA) ratio and omega-3 index on the incidence of running-related injuries
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN12847156 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN12847156 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | NO. Rf. 200617 |
- Submission date
- 16/12/2017
- Registration date
- 13/03/2018
- Last edited
- 19/05/2023
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Injury, Occupational Diseases, Poisoning
Plain English Summary
Background and study aims.
Running is one of the most common kind of exercise among athletes. A "runner" is generally defined as a person who runs a minimum distance of about 20-30 km per week, from a period of time ranging between 1 and 3 years. However, both amateur and professional athletes are largely affected by overuse injuries at different districts. After intense physical exercise or after injury, an inflammatory process occurs. The activation and the subsequent inflammation resolution are necessary processes to start tissues healing. Since distinct lipid mediators can be synthesized from omega-6 (ω-6) and omega-3(ω-3), pro-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid mediators respectively, the scientific community focused on the possible efficacy of the polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-6 (ω-6) and (ω-3) in the modulation of inflammatory processes. Furthermore, it is questioned if an imbalance of ω-6/ω-3 fatty acids can result in a higher incidence of overuse injuries in runners. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the arachidonic acid/eicopsapentaenoic acid ratio (AA/EPA) or the deficiency of ω-3 index is related to an increased risk of overload injury ("overuse", bone microfracture, muscle or tendon rupture) in this population of athletes.
Who can participate?
Healthy runners and triathletes, males and females, who usually train at least 2 times per week from at least 12 months
What does the study involve?
Previously collected data is collected from a database. A statistical analysis to evaluate the potential association between fatty acid composition and risk of injuries.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
By taking part in this study there are no risks of physical injury or harm. The anonymity of the participants was guaranteed.
Where is the study run from?
1. Sannio Tech Consortium (Italy)
2. Sport Campus of Varese (Italy)
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2016 to December 2017
Who is funding the study?
Investigator initiated and funded (Italy)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Giovanni Scapagnini
giovanni.scapagnini@unimol.it
Contact information
Scientific
Via de sanctis snc III Edificio Polifunzionale University of Molise
Campobasso
86100
Italy
Study information
| Study design | Retrospective osbervational |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Observational |
| Secondary study design | Cohort study |
| Study setting(s) | Other |
| Study type | Other |
| Participant information sheet | Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet |
| Scientific title | Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and incidence of running-related injuries: an observational study on the role of AA/EPA ratio and omega-3 index |
| Study hypothesis | Considering that the activation and the resolution of the inflammation have a fundamental role in the recovery of an injured tissue, this retrospective observational study verified whether an imbalance of the AA/EPA ratio and an altered ω-3 index can be related to an increased risk of overuse injury in runners and triathletes. In particular, this study was designed to evaluate the link between variation of these parameters (AA/EPA ratio; ω-3 index) and the risk of injury associated with training load and athletes characteristics. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Insubria Ethical Committee, 29/09/2017, ref: 10.2692017 |
| Condition | Running-related injuries |
| Intervention | The study includes a retrospective statistical analysis of clinical, laboratoristic and sports practice data of 275 runners and triathletes. Participants completed a questionnaire that allows researchers to collect the following information: 1. Anthropometric characteristics 2. Potential use of anti-inflammatory drugs and/or ω-3 food supplements 3. Years of training 4. Hours of physical activity performed weekly 5. Kilometers of run weekly 6. Any overuse injuries occurred in the last 6 months. Dried whole blood spot samples, obtained using lancet finger sticks, are collected to perform lipidomic analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The ω-3 PUFAs that str quantified, including ALA, EPA, DHA, and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). The ω-6 PUFAs are also quantified, including linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA). Explorative bivariate statistical analyses are performed to investigate the possible association and confounding role of each variable considered. Chi-squared test, Spearman correlation coefficient, Wilcoxon- Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests are used for categorical, continuous variables and continuous on categorical variables, respectively. The association between the AA/EPA ratio, ω-3 index and the other covariates are assessed by using the linear regression model. The association between the risk of injuries, the AA/EPA ratio, ω-3 index and the other covariates are assessed by using the logistic model. The results of the statistical modelling are considered statistically significant whenever a 2-sided P value less than 0.05 was achieved. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | 1. Potential association between alterations of AA/EPA ratio and risk of running-related injuries. 2. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) [EPA, AA, and DHA] were measured using gas chromatography. |
| Secondary outcome measures | Possible association between the value of ω-3 index and risk of running-related injuries. The levels of PUFAs to determine ω-3 index were measured using gas chromatography. |
| Overall study start date | 30/09/2016 |
| Overall study end date | 15/12/2017 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Healthy volunteer |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 275 |
| Total final enrolment | 275 |
| Participant inclusion criteria | 1. Healthy Caucasian males and females 2. Runners or triathletes 3. Age ≥18 years 4. Subjects who did not participated in similar studies in the last 3 months 5. Absence of eating disorders 6. Subjects informed about the procedures and who have signed an informed consent appropriately prepared by the proponents 7. Subjects usually train at least 2 times a week for at least 12 months |
| Participant exclusion criteria | 1. Subjects that do not meet the inclusion criteria 2. Currently pregnant |
| Recruitment start date | 10/01/2017 |
| Recruitment end date | 30/09/2017 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Italy
Study participating centres
Italy
Italy
Sponsor information
Not defined
Via Garavaglia, 2
Zelbio (CO)
22020
Italy
Funders
Funder type
Other
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 01/09/2018 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal. |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Professor Giovanni Scapagnini, University of Molise Department of Medicine and Health Sciences at g.scapagnini@gmail.com or giovanni.scapagnini@unimol.it |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | 25/10/2021 | 26/10/2021 | Yes | No | |
| Results article | 26/04/2019 | 19/05/2023 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
19/05/2023: Publication reference added.
26/10/2021: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The total final enrolment was added.
