{
  "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.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5DL, UK",
    "School of Health, Sport Science and Nutrition, Atlantic Technological University, H91 T8NW Galway, Ireland"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Mark Flanagan",
      "orcid": "0009-0005-1309-9702"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Lisa Ryan",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5505-7130"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7zywe56bk67p5.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/nu18193261",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13666917/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "7zywe56bk67p5",
  "issns": [
    "2072-6643"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13666917",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2916|Fatty Acid Research and Health"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7215681467",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13666917/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13666917",
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7zywe56bk67p5.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:35Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13666917",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13666917"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:56Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/nu18193261",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/19/3261"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "issn:2072-6643",
      "subfield": "nutrition"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Dietary Omega-3 Intake, Supplement Use and Omega-3 Status in Elite (Tier 3) Male Gaelic Football Players: A Cross-Sectional Study",
  "title_text": "Dietary Omega-3 Intake, Supplement Use and Omega-3 Status in Elite (Tier 3) Male Gaelic Football Players: A Cross-Sectional Study",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:56Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7zywe56bk67p5",
  "venue": "Nutrients",
  "versions": []
}