Dietary Omega-3 Intake, Supplement Use and Omega-3 Status in Elite (Tier 3) Male Gaelic Football Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFA) are recognised for their roles in cardiovascular and brain health, with emerging evidence suggesting potential benefits for athletic performance and recovery. However, dietary intake and biological status of n-3PUFA remain poorly understood in athletes from intermittent team sports in Ireland, such as Gaelic football players. Through combining self-reported intake and biological assessment, this study provides, to our knowledge, the first comprehensive characterisation of n-3PUFA intake, supplementation practices, barriers to intake and biological status in this population. Methods: Players from nine intercounty Gaelic football teams (n = 76, 24.7 ± 3.2 years) completed a validated food frequency questionnaire to assess dietary n-3PUFA intake. A subgroup of participants (n = 20, 25.6 ± 3.5 years, 88.5 ± 5.7 kg) completed dry blood spot sampling to determine their Omega-3 Index (O3i). Results: A total of 63% (n = 48) of participants met or exceeded the European Food Safety Authority Adequate Intake (AI) of 250–500 mg/day for EPA+DHA. Supplement users were significantly more likely to meet or exceed the AI compared with non-users (89.7% vs. 35.1%; p < 0.001). In the subgroup assessed, the mean O3i was 6.06 ± 0.93%, with no participant achieving an O3i of ≥8%. Dietary intake was not significantly correlated with O3i (ρ = −0.09, 95% CI [−0.51, 0.37]), however, this analysis was likely underpowered due to the small subsample assessed. Barriers to fish consumption included sensory factors (29%), cooking ability (23%) and a lack of knowledge on n-3PUFA (20%). Conclusions: The subsample assessed (n = 20) had an O3i below the cardioprotective threshold of 8%, however, implications for performance or recovery remain unclear. Given the cross-sectional design and small biomarker sample, intake-status findings should be interpreted as descriptive. Targeted interventions addressing both intake and supplementation practices may be needed to improve n-3PUFA intake and status in this population.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Nutrients, 2026 · DOI ↗