Abstract
This study investigated the responses to a green algae mixture of Scenedesmus dimorphus and Schroederiella apiculata (SC) containing protein (46.1% of dry algae), insoluble fibre (19.6% of dry algae), minerals (3.7% of dry algae) and omega-3 fatty acids (2.8% of dry algae) as a dietary intervention in a high carbohydrate, high fat diet-induced metabolic syndrome model in four groups of male Wistar rats. Two groups were fed with a corn starch diet containing 68% carbohydrates as polysaccharides, while the other two groups were fed a diet high in simple carbohydrates (fructose and sucrose in food, 25% fructose in drinking water, total 68%) and fats (saturated and trans fats from beef tallow, total 24%). High carbohydrate, high fat-fed rats showed visceral obesity with hypertension, insulin resistance, cardiovascular remodelling, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. SC supplementation (5% of food) lowered total body and abdominal fat mass, increased lean mass, and attenuated hypertension, impaired glucose and insulin tolerance, endothelial dysfunction, infiltration of inflammatory cells into heart and liver, fibrosis, increased cardiac stiffness, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the high carbohydrate, high fat diet-fed rats. This study suggests that the insoluble fibre or protein in SC helps reverse diet-induced metabolic syndrome.
Highlights
High energy diets with increased saturated fats and refined carbohydrates increase the development of both intra-abdominal obesity and metabolic risk factors such as impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, increased systolic blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular complications [1,2,3,4]
We have investigated in rats whether the consumption of this microalgal mixture can reverse the signs of the metabolic syndrome induced by a high carbohydrate and high fat diet
In the Schroederiella apiculata (SC) mixture, total protein content was 46.1% of dry algae, total fibre content was 19.6% of dry algae with
Summary
High energy diets with increased saturated fats and refined carbohydrates increase the development of both intra-abdominal obesity and metabolic risk factors such as impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, increased systolic blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular complications [1,2,3,4]. A healthy dietary pattern including the intake of vegetables, fruits and whole grain fibre as part of energy restriction prevents obesity, promotes weight loss in obese patients, and reverses metabolic risk factors [5,6,7,8]. In addition to physical activity, obesity management includes healthy eating with consumption of food low in total dietary fats, especially saturated and trans fats, and low in refined carbohydrates, but high in proteins and fibre, as a long-term lifestyle intervention [9,10]. Active ingredients including β-carotene, astaxanthin, lutein, phycobiliproteins and insoluble fibre extracted from Chlorella, Spirulina, Dunaliella, Porphyridium, and Scenedesmus species have been reported for their antioxidant, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperlipidaemic effects [14,15,16]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
