Study Shows Almost No U.S. College Football Players Get Enough Omega-3s

NEWS

Despite the potential protective role of omega-3s in cases of traumatic brain injury, only one of more than 100 U.S. college football players recently surveyed had a blood level of omega-3s that could offer the best protection.

COMMENT

U.S. college football players are hardly alone in having insufficient levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Research published by Harvard University suggests outright omega-3 deficiency is widespread in the United States and causes up to 96,000 deaths per year, thus making it the sixth biggest killer of Americans.

Nevertheless, there is increasing recognition of the importance of micronutrients for athletic performance. Illustrating this, teams in all U.S. major leagues, some college athletic departments, and the U.S. men’s and women’s soccer teams are reported to have started tracking their players’ vitamin D levels and intakes. Such actions are supported by a growing amount of research proving that vitamin D supplements can help improve exercise performance.

But for optimum results, all athletes – both amateurs and professionals alike – should use supplementary micronutrient combinations that are designed synergistically. Pioneered by researchers at the Dr. Rath Research Institute, the ‘micronutrient synergy approach’ maximizes the efficiency of each nutrient in a combination; eliminates the need for so-called mega-doses; increases the bioavailability of nutrients; helps maintain a balanced cellular metabolism; and efficiently generates the necessary energy in the body’s cells. To learn more about the benefits of the micronutrient synergy approach, read this article on our website.