International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Nutritional Concerns of the Female Athlete
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Position Statement: The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) presents this position based on a critical examination of the literature surrounding the effects of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) supplementation on exercise performance, recovery, and brain health. This position stand is intended to provide a scientific foundation for athletes, dietitians, trainers, and other practitioners regarding the effects of supplemental ω-3 PUFA in healthy and athletic populations. The following conclusions represent the official position of the ISSN: Athletes may be at a higher risk for ω-3 PUFA insufficiency. Diets rich in ω-3 PUFA, including supplements, are effective strategies for increasing ω-3 PUFA levels. ω-3 PUFA supplementation, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), has been shown to enhance endurance capacity and cardiovascular function during aerobic-type exercise. ω-3 PUFA supplementation may not confer a muscle hypertrophic benefit in young adults. ω-3 PUFA supplementation in combination with resistance training may improve strength in a dose- and duration-dependent manner. ω-3 PUFA supplementation may decrease subjective measures of muscle soreness following intense exercise. ω-3 PUFA supplementation can positively affect various immune cell responses in athletic populations. Prophylactic ω-3 PUFA supplementation may offer neuroprotective benefits in athletes exposed to repeated head impacts. ω-3 PUFA supplementation is associated with improved sleep quality. ω-3 PUFA are classified as prebiotics; however, studies on the gut microbiome and gut health in athletes are currently lacking.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Publication Info
Published in Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Issue 1, 2025.
Rights
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
APA Citation
Sims, S. T., Kerksick, C. M., Smith-Ryan, A. E., Janse, K., Hirsch, K. R., Arent, S. M., Hewlings, S., Kleiner, S. M., Bustillo, E., Tartar, J. L., Starratt, V. G., Kreider, R. B., Greenwalt, C., Rentería, L. I., Ormsbee, M. J., VanDusseldorp, T. A., Campbell, B., Kalman, D. S., & Antonio, J. (2023). International society of sports nutrition position stand: nutritional concerns of the female athlete. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 20(1).https://doi.org/10.1080/15502783.2023.2204066