When you eat a meal, in particular one with fat, the fat in your blood (triglycerides) are elevated.
The extent triglycerides are elevated after a meal is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Thus,
strategies to reduce this elevation in triglycerides are beneficial on heart health. Two strategies that can
reduce triglycerides are exercise and
omega-3 fats. This study examined the individual and combined effects of
exercise and
omega-3 supplementation. Subjects completed 4 trials and their triglyceride response to a fat-rich
meal was assessed: control (no exercise and no omega 3), exercise (1 h of exercise 12 hours before the meal),
omega-3 fat supplementation (4 g/day for 3 wk), and a combination of exercise and omega 3. Exercise alone reduced
the total triglyceride response by 40%, omega 3 fat alone by 42%, and the combined effects of exercise and omega
3 fat reduced triglycerides by a remarkable 58%. The study shows an additive effect of exercise and omega 3 fat
on reducing a strong risk factor for chronic disease. The dose of
omega 3 was relatively low and provides a
relatively simple strategy to
protect against heart disease.
Smith BK, Sun GY, Donahue OM, Thomas TR. Exercise plus n-3 fatty acids: additive effect on postprandial lipemia. Metabolism. 2004 Oct;53(10):1365-71.
