Javierre et al. 2006
Spain
Downs & Black score=13
Pre-Post
N=21

Population: SCI: Mean age = 34 yrs; Gender: males = 21; Level of injury: paraplegia = 18, tetraplegia = 3; Severity of injury: AIS: A=57%, B=28%, C=10%, D=5%; Time since injury = 8.5 yrs.
Treatment: Omega 3-fatty acid supplementation for 6 months. Supplementation contained 1.5 g/day of DHA , 0.60 g/day of EPA and 9 mg/day of alpha-tocopherol, combined in pill form taken 2/meal, at 3 meals/day.
Outcome measures: Global Physical Exam: Lab exercise test (O2 update, CO2 production, VE –ventilation exchange, Heart rate, Skin temperature, Arm & leg blood pressure); Dynamometry test (Strength test – 20 reps at a load 70% of maximum personal displacement and holding that 70% for as long as possible); Aerobic field test; Anaerobic field test; all done at baseline, 3 mnths and 6 mnths after study.

• In 3 months, the study showed an increased concentration in plasma of:
• DHA (200%).
• EPA (p<0.05).
• As the study progressed a significant decrease was seen in:
• O2 consumption (p<0.05).
• Systolic blood pressure (p=0.012).
• Body weight, glucose levels, uric acid and lactate remained constant.
• As the workload ↑, O2 uptake ↑. However, this progressively ↓ over time (p<0.001).
• Completion time ↓ for 20 reps at 70% maximum load:
• Day 1 to 2, 28% ↓;
• 2 to 3, 13% ↓;
• 1 to 3, 41% ↓.
• All muscle groups showed a significant improvement (p<0.05).
• Endurance, ↑ in management time of the load:
• Day 1 to 2, 44% ↑;
• 1 to 3, 70% ↑.
• No differences were found between times on the aerobic test. On the anaerobic test, an improvement in time was noted for a 90 meter distance between day 1 and 2 only (p<0.05).