Design and methods for the ranger resilience and improved performance on phospholipid bound Omega-3’s (RRIPP-3 study)

Marriott et al. (2019) explain the designs and methods of the Ranger Resilience and Improved Performance on Phospholipid bound Omega-3’s (RRIPP-3) study – a double-blind randomized controlled trial that tested omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) along with krill oil supplementation in individuals undertaking the United States (US) Army Infantry Basic Officer Leaders Course (IBOLC). Omega-3 HUFAs are essential for neural function, normative neurodevelopment, neurotransmitter, and neural immune functions, already proven in observational studies and randomized controlled trials. But as dietary supplements, omega-3 HUFAs such as fish and krill oils differ substantially in their physicochemical properties and nutrient content from the omega-3 HUFAs obtained through diet. In the RRIPP-3 study, the impact of adding the krill oil with the omega-3 HUFAs on cognitive functioning was compared to placebo, in order to determine whether the krill oil supplementation can improve critical cognitive aspects required for success in the battlefield. Basic advancements were observed in the participants’ IBOLC performances following supplementation with HUFAs and krill oil. [NPID: military, performance, omega-3s, fatty acids, HUFAs, krill oil, neural function, neurodevelopment, neurotransmitter function, immunity, the immune system]

Year: 2019

Reference: Marriott, B. P., Turner, T. H., Hibbeln, J. R., Pregulman, M., Newman, J., Johnson, K. B., Malek, A. M., Malcolm, R. J., Burbelo, G. A., Wissman, J. W., & RRIPP-3 Group (2019). Design and methods for the Ranger Resilience and Improved Performance on Phospholipid bound Omega-3's (RRIPP-3 study). Contemporary clinical trials communications, 15, 100359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conctc.2019.100359