Mixed
Supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) during pulmonary rehabilitation significantly improves exercise capacity (peak workload and submaximal endurance) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), independent of changes in fat-free mass or systemic inflammation.
If you have COPD and are doing pulmonary rehab, adding a specific polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplement to your routine can help you exercise longer and harder than rehab alone. This benefit comes from improved muscle metabolism, not from building more muscle or lowering blood inflammation. The study used a specific blend of fatty acids (including EPA, DHA, ALA, GLA, and STA) totaling 9 grams daily for 8 weeks. While this is a high dose and specific blend, it suggests that targeted nutritional support can enhance the physical gains from exercise training in lung disease.
This is the first study to show beneficial effects of PUFA on exercise capacity in patients with COPD... The peak load of the incremental exercise test increased more in the PUFA group than in the placebo group... The duration of the constant work rate test also increased more in patients receiving PUFA... The positive effects of PUFA could not be attributed to a decrease in systemic levels of CRP, IL-6 and TNF-a.
Why this rating
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a moderate sample size (n=80 completers) and clear statistical significance, though limited to a specific COPD population.
Source
Polyunsaturated fatty acids improve exercise capacity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
R. Broekhuizen · Thorax · 2005
DOI 10.1136/thx.2004.030858
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