Introduction

1. Effect of an 8-week supplementation with n-3 fatty acids on anxiety in competitive athletes M. Bolger & L. DoyleDepartment of Health, Sport & Exercise Science , Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland Methods State Anxiety was measured using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI–2) developed by Martens et al. (1990). This assessed state anxiety, cognitive worry and somatic anxiety, and a related construct, self-confidence. Analysis Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) programme. Since data was normally distributed differences bewteen week 0 and 8 were assessed by unpaired t-tests. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess diferences between weeks 0, 4 and 8. Results Unpaired t-tests found no significant differences (P 0.05) in BMI, blood pressure or heart rate between weeks 0 and 8. Figure 1 Figure 1 shows no significant differences (P >0.05) in any dietary variables, including saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid intakes. Figure 2 Figure 2 shows n-3 fatty acid significantly increased (*P = 0.034) with supplementation in the Fatty Acid group only. Introduction Anxiety has been associated with lower work effectiveness and reduced or degraded decision making (Weinberg & Gould, 2003). As such inappropriate anxiety levels could have a detrimental effect on sport performance. Research suggests supplementation with essential fatty acids has significant psychological benefits. Su (2003) found increased intake of omega 3 fatty acids was associated with reduced depression. Peet and Horrobin (2002) report beneficial effects on depression, anxiety, sleep, lassitude, libido and suicidality, as a result of increased omega 3 fatty acid intake. Since previous studies indicate increased omega 3 fatty acids have a beneficial psychological effect, this study hypothesizes increased omega 3 fatty acids intake may also have a beneficial effect on anxiety levels. No previous studies have examined essential fatty acid supplementation in sport related anxiety. This study examines the effects of essential fatty acids on cognitive and somatic anxiety in sport. Discussion The results of this study demonstrate supplementation with omega 3 fatty acids produced no significant effects on anxiety, it’s components or self-confidence. Significant changes in self-confidence did appear over time (P = 0.005) but these changes were not different between control and fatty acid groups. Changes in self-confidence may be due to the nature of sport and the effect that winning/loosing may have on a subjects self-confidence. The possibility of a beneficial effect of fatty acids on anxiety still remains. Additional research should be carried out within this area with higher numbers of subjects, since only 12 subjects were used per group in the present study. Further research could also be carried out over a longer period of time, since it may take a longer period of time than 8 weeks to change the nature of anxiety by dietary means. Additionally some studies producing a beneficial effect of fatty acids on anxiety related disorders have used higher doses of fatty acids, so perhaps higher doses of fatty acids could be used in further anxiety related sports studies. Figure 3 Figure 3 shows no significant difference (P > 0.05) in SCAT levels between groups. Figure 4 Figure 4 shows no significant difference (P > 0.05) in cognitive anxiety between groups. Figure 5 Figure 5 shows no significant difference (P > 0.05) in somatic anxiety between groups. Figure 6 Figure 6 shows no significant difference (P > 0.05) in self-confidence between groups. Control Fatty Acid Control Fatty Acid Methods Following ethical approval from Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), and screening of volunteers, 24 subjects (Male, n = 14, Age mean 25.8, s = 9.3 years; Female, n = 10, Age mean 27.2, s = 7.1 years) were recruited. Subjects completed a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) from Nutrition Systems, which was analyzed by Comp-Eat dietary analysis software. Based on the subjects baseline essential fatty acid intake subjects were assigned to a control group (n 12) who took a placebo tablet for 8 weeks, or a fatty acid group (n 12) who took a fish oil supplement supplying 360 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 240 mg docosahexaneoic (DHA) per day in this double blind placebo controlled trial. BMI, blood pressure and heart rate were measured at weeks 0 and 8 with dietary intake, state and trait anxiety measured at weeks 0, 4 and 8. Trait Anxiety was measured using the Sport Competitive Anxiety Test (SCAT) developed by Martens et al. (1990). References Martens R, Vealy S and Burton D (1990) Competitive anxiety in sports. Champaign: Human Kinetics. Peet M and Horrobin D (2002) A dose–ranging study of the effects of ethyl–eicosapentaenoate in patients with ongoing depression despite apparently adequate treatment with standard drugs. Archive of General Psychiatry, 59, 913 – 919. Su P, Huang Y, Chiu C and Shen W (2003) Omega 3 fatty acids in major depressive disorder. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 13, 267 –271. Weinberg S and Gould D (2003) Foundations of sport and exercise psychology. Champaign: Human Kinetics. Control Fatty Acid Control Fatty Acid * * Control Fatty Acid Control Fatty Acid