Introduction:
The injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) contribute to the formation of oxygen free radicals, which in excess can trigger oxidative damage in the knee joint.
Objective:
To evaluate the effects of oral supplementation with omega-3 on markers of oxidative stress in individuals undergoing ACL reconstruction.
Methods:
This study is a prospective, randomized, controlled, and single blinded clinical trial, with a sample of 25 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction, randomly assigned to: Omega-3 group (OG), supplemented daily with 2 g of omega-3 for 15 days after ACL surgery; and Control group (CG), without supplementation. Blood and synovial fluid collection was performed immediately before the surgical procedure and 15 days after ACL reconstruction. The biochemical analyses assessed the levels of lipid peroxidation products (MDA); catalase activity; total sulfhydryl groups and polyphenols and C-reactive protein (CRP).
Results:
We verified a significant decrease in the levels of MDA in the OG compared to the CG (p<0.05) and, similarly, that the catalase antioxidant enzyme activity was significantly lower in the OG when compared to the CG (p<0.001). We also observed significantly elevated levels of total sulfhydryl groups in plasma in supplemented individuals when compared to the CG (p<0.001). In addition, significantly higher levels of polyphenols (p<0.05) were observed in both plasma and synovial fluid of individuals who received omega-3 in the post-surgical period compared to pre-surgical. However, no protective effect was observed with the administration of omega-3 on the anti-inflammatory function.
Conclusion:
The findings suggest that there is a protective effect of omega-3 on the modulation of oxidative stress markers in individuals undergoing ACL reconstruction.
knee; anterior cruciate ligament; dietary supplements; fatty acids, omega-3
