Study Looks to Improve Performance of the World’s Toughest Triathletes
Aker BioMarine, Pure Science Triathlon team and Norseman have pioneered a study that examines the effects of krill oil omega-3s on athletic performance and recovery.
March 6, 2018, Oslo, Norway: The Isklar Norseman Xtreme Triathlon is considered the ultimate triathlon in the world. Racing through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Norway, those who are able to finish at the rocky peak of Gaustatoppen (located at 1,850m above sea level) can say that they travelled one of the toughest full distance triathlons on planet earth. And in addition to the grueling physical aspect of the race, the weather can range from beautiful and sunny to a blasting wind and blizzards, sometimes all in one day.
Unmatched by other extreme events due to its difficult and punishing severity, the annual ‘fjord to peak’ Norseman Xtreme Triathlon provides the ideal test with which to gauge just how important a role omega-3s can play in ultimate performance.
Omega-3s are some of the most important nutrients that our bodies need. They are essential for maintaining and supporting cardiovascular, brain, eye and joint health. They are also important for sports endurance and recovery, which is why Aker BioMarine has set out to explore the effects that krill oil has on Norseman athletes and Team Pure Science.
Part professionally run triathlon team, part clinical field study, Team Pure Science is made-up of a diverse group. Elite level professionals, such as 2016 Norseman winner Kari Flottorp Lingsom and former World Ironman Champion under 24 Hans Christian Tungesvik are paired up for this study in addition to dedicated amateurs.
Download pictures, infographics and the video: HERE.
Study leader, Dr. Andreas Berg Storsve, Director R&D at Aker BioMarine, explains the background behind this unique research project.
“We know that high-intensity training has an impact on immune function and inflammation, making athletes especially vulnerable to illness and infections. This has a direct impact on the athletes’ physical recovery and performance.”
“In order to thoroughly research the effects of omega-3 DHA and EPA in regards to maximal exercise, we didn’t have to look far. Norseman athletes are some of the strongest competitors in the world. The fact that these incredible athletes are meticulous in their training, routines and diet, makes them the perfect research subjects.”
2016 Norseman winner Kari Flottorp Lingsom outlines the extreme training demands of the race, “Preparing for the Norseman is a very intense period. It is not just a four-week gig. It is more like eight, nine months with two to four hard-core workouts a day.”
Omega-3s, the secret weapon for ultimate performance
Conducting a pilot during Norseman 2017, Dr. Storsve and his team used Omega-3 Index testing before and after the race, finding that in general, the athletes experienced a severe drop in DHA levels in the five weeks after completing the contest. The good news, however, was that supplementation with a high dose (4 grams a day) of krill oil restored the DHA drop and significantly increased the athletes’ Omega-3 Index.
“Pilot data from the 2017 Norseman study clearly shows a drop in omega-3 levels following high-intensity exercise. This is important because we found that higher omega-3 levels were associated with less illness during training and better performance during the race, especially during the cycling leg. We also found that athletes with higher omega-3 levels recovered faster after the race,” Dr. Storsve explains.
Phospholipids – jumpstart towards recovery
“Phospholipid-bound omega-3 fatty acids found in krill oil, particularly DHA and EPA, are highly anti-inflammatory and have been shown to strengthen markers of immune function following maximal exercise,” says Dr. Storsve. “Krill oil consumption may therefore help to reduce the risk of infection and circumvent training disruptions in athletes.”
Unlike traditional sources of omega-3s such as fish oil, the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids found in Antarctic krill are in phospholipid, rather than triglyceride form. A key distinction from the rest, omega-3 phospholipids are delivered much more effectively to tissues and cells than triglycerides and play a vital role in keeping membranes functioning.
This is essential for the team’s elite athletes like former World Ironman under 24 Champion Hans Christian Tungesvik.
“To perform at the maximum level, I need to give my body the nutrients that it needs, particularly to avoid injury and illness, because that enables me to get the consistent training I need for a race like Norseman.”
“Obviously omega-3s are an important part of my diet and nutrition, so I am really eager to see how krill oil can affect my performance and recovery,” says Tungesvik.
Another important finding of the study, Dr. Storsve brings out, is that the Omega-3 Index turned out to be the second best predictor of bike leg time, after exercise volume, and ahead of important factors such as pre-race injuries, illness and early-life fitness level. According to Dr. Storsve, this can be a game-changer for the top athletes.
Since testing a random group of 50 athletes from 2017 Norseman field, the 2018 research study will enable a more in-depth, systematic study of the importance of phospholipids for recovery in both training and competition.
“During 2018 Norseman we will be testing for specific biomarkers of inflammation and immune responses as well as the effects of choline, which is a central component of krill oil, on performance and recovery,” says Dr. Storsve. “By doing so, we will get a more complete understanding of the nutritional factors that help athletes optimize their performance. However, the results so far suggest that krill oil can have a real impact in the world of sports.”
Norseman factbox:
Norseman is the toughest and the most extreme triathlon in the world involving:
- 3,8 km swim (water temp normally around 13 C)
- 180 km cycling (total elevation 3400 m)
- 42 km run (total elevation 1600 m)
Norseman pilot study:
2017 Norseman pilot study shows that krill oil has positive impact on:
- Illness reduction during training
- Fast recovery to get back to intensive training
- Better performance during the race
Fact box:
- Initial findings suggest that athletes may require a particularly high omega-3 intake, as the study recorded a significant drop in DHA levels in the five weeks following the race.
- 30 days supplementation of a relatively high dose of krill oil restored DHA to its pre-race levels and increased the average Omega-3 Index above the recommended value of 8 percent.
- Athletes with relatively higher Omega-3 Index scores returned to high-intensity training more rapidly following the Norseman Xtreme triathlon than did athletes with relatively lower Omega-3 Index scores.
- The Omega-3 Index was found to be the second best predictor of bike leg time, after exercise volume, and ahead of important factors such as pre-race injuries, illness and early-life fitness level.
Resources:
Download pictures, infographics and the video HERE.
YouTube link to the full video is available HERE.
For more information or interviews with 2016 Norseman winner Kari Flottorp Lingsom, former World Ironman Champion under 24 Hans Christian Tungesvik or Dr. Andreas Berg Storsve please contact:
Katrin Berntsen
Director Communication
katrin.berntsen@akerbiomarine.com
Miranda Wyatt
Marketing Manager US
miranda.wyatt@akerbiomarine.com
Aker BioMarine is a biotech innovator and Antarctic krill-harvesting company, dedicated to improving human and planetary health. The company develops krill-based ingredients for nutraceutical, aquaculture, and animal feed applications. The company’s fully transparent value chain stretches from sustainable krill harvesting in pristine Antarctic waters through its Montevideo logistics hub, Houston production plant, and all the way to customers around the world. Aker BioMarine is fully owned by Aker ASA, an industrial pioneer since its establishment in 1841.
