Fish oil may speed up muscle recovery in elite athletes
NCT ID NCT07439601
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looks at whether taking fish oil supplements to raise omega-3 levels above 8% can help athletes recover from muscle damage caused by downhill running. Researchers will measure inflammation and muscle soreness in 46 sub-elite to elite athletes over 72 hours after exercise. The goal is to see if higher omega-3 levels lead to faster recovery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could show that boosting omega-3 levels helps athletes recover more quickly from muscle soreness and inflammation after hard exercise.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 46 participants, so results may not apply to all athletes. It also relies on blood markers, not direct measures of performance or injury prevention.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 46 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Feb 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 50 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * An Omega-3 index of ≤ 6% * Age 18-50 years * Sub-elite to elite athletes from local sports teams (e.g. cycling, triathlon) * Male and female Exclusion Criteria: * inflammatory diseases, injuries that prevent them exercising.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.