IntroductionAnxiety 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. MethodsFollowing 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).
MethodsState Anxiety was measured using the Competitive State
Anxiety Inventory (CSAI2) developed by Martens et al. (1990). This
assessed state anxiety, cognitive worry and somatic anxiety, and a
related construct, self-confidence.
AnalysisData 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.
ResultsUnpaired 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.DiscussionThe results of this study demonstrate
supplementation with omega 3 fatty acids produced no significant
effects on anxiety, its 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.M.
Bolger & L. Doyle Department of Health, Sport & Exercise
Science , Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland
ReferencesMartens R, Vealy S and Burton D (1990) Competitive
anxiety in sports. Champaign: Human Kinetics.
Peet M and Horrobin D (2002) A doseranging study of the effects
of ethyleicosapentaenoate 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.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.Effect of an 8-week supplementation
with n-3 fatty acids on anxiety in competitive athletes Control
Fatty Acid Control Fatty Acid** Control Fatty Acid Control Fatty
AcidControlFatty Acid Control Fatty Acid
Chart4
34.82712.4
342510.6
35.927.712.3
28.225.713.6
32.32814.8
31.926.313.8
Saturated
Monounsaturated
Polyunsaturated
Intake g/day
Sheet1
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
Saturated34.83435.928.232.331.9
Monounsaturated272527.725.72826.3
Polyunsaturated12.410.612.313.614.813.8
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
0.520.450.440.440.450.53
2.812.612.592.683.143.68
Sheet1
Saturated
Monounsaturated
Polyunsaturated
Intake g/day
Sheet2
n - 6 Fatty Acids
n - 3 Fatty Acids
Sheet3
Chart8
0.522.81
0.452.61
0.442.59
0.442.68
1.052.54
1.133.68
n-3
n-6
Intake g/day
Sheet1
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
Saturated34.83435.928.232.331.9
Monounsaturated272527.725.72826.3
Polyunsaturated12.410.612.313.614.813.8
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
0.520.450.440.441.051.13
2.812.612.592.682.543.68
Sheet1
Saturated
Monounsaturated
Polyunsaturated
Intake g/day
Sheet2
n-3
n-6
Intake g/day
Sheet3
Chart10
20.73
20
20.82
19.62
19.69
20
Sheet1
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
Saturated34.83435.928.232.331.9
Monounsaturated272527.725.72826.3
Polyunsaturated12.410.612.313.614.813.8
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
0.520.450.440.441.051.13
2.812.612.592.682.543.68
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
20.732020.8219.6219.6920
Sheet1
Saturated
Monounsaturated
Polyunsaturated
Intake g/day
Sheet2
n-3
n-6
Intake g/day
Sheet3
Chart11
19.55
10.09
18.73
19
18.77
18.38
Sheet1
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
Saturated34.83435.928.232.331.9
Monounsaturated272527.725.72826.3
Polyunsaturated12.410.612.313.614.813.8
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
0.520.450.440.441.051.13
2.812.612.592.682.543.68
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
20.732020.8219.6219.6920
Sheet1
Saturated
Monounsaturated
Polyunsaturated
Intake g/day
Sheet2
n-3
n-6
Intake g/day
Sheet3
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
19.5510.0918.731918.7718.38
Chart12
18.18
18.82
18.18
18.69
18.62
18.23
Sheet1
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
Saturated34.83435.928.232.331.9
Monounsaturated272527.725.72826.3
Polyunsaturated12.410.612.313.614.813.8
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
0.520.450.440.441.051.13
2.812.612.592.682.543.68
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
20.732020.8219.6219.6920
Sheet1
Saturated
Monounsaturated
Polyunsaturated
Intake g/day
Sheet2
n-3
n-6
Intake g/day
Sheet3
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
19.5510.0918.731918.7718.38
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
18.1818.8218.1818.6918.6218.23
Chart13
22.36
22.64
23.45
22.46
22.23
23.46
Sheet1
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
Saturated34.83435.928.232.331.9
Monounsaturated272527.725.72826.3
Polyunsaturated12.410.612.313.614.813.8
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
0.520.450.440.441.051.13
2.812.612.592.682.543.68
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
20.732020.8219.6219.6920
Sheet1
Saturated
Monounsaturated
Polyunsaturated
Intake g/day
Sheet2
n-3
n-6
Intake g/day
Sheet3
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
19.5510.0918.731918.7718.38
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
18.1818.8218.1818.6918.6218.23
Week 0Week 4Week 8Week 0Week 4Week 8
22.3622.6423.4522.4622.2323.46
