Table 2.
Summary of findings from RCTs on the use of n‐3 PUFAs for the treatment of muscle soreness after eccentric exercise.
| Outcome | No of studies (participants) | ROB | Indirectness | Inconsistency | Imprecision | Publication bias | Pooled effect | I 2 | GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOMS | 9 (210) | Seriousa | Not serious | Not serious | Seriousb | Not serious | MD: -0.93 (-1.44, -0.42) | 39% | Low |
| Isometric muscle strength | 6 (144) | Seriousa | Not serious | Not serious | Seriousb | Not serious | SMD: -0.03 (-0.36, 0.31) | 3% | Low |
| ROM | 4 (93) | Seriousa | Not serious | Not serious | Seriousb | Undetected | SMD: -0.21 (-0.24, 0.67) | 16% | Low |
Moderate quality: further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate. Low quality: further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate. Very low quality: we are very uncertain about the estimate. RCT: randomized controlled trial; ROB: risk of bias; DOMS: delayed onset muscle soreness; ROM: range of motion; MD: mean difference; SMD: standard mean difference; n‐3 PUFA: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid. aDowngraded as most of the included RCTs had critical limitation for attrition bias. bDowngraded for continuous variables if the sample size was less than 400.