Exercise And Spirulina Maxima Improve General Fitness And Blood Lipids In Obesity: A Randomized Trial

Abstract

: Cardiovascular diseases are part of the highly preventable chronic diseases associated with changes in lifestyle. Within them, physical activity, low-fat & high-fiber diets are distinguished as the main support for prevention, even when supplementation with nutraceuticals has become a very common practice. PURPOSE: A systematic physical exercise program and Spirulina maxima (S. maxima) intake have beneficial effects on general fitness and blood lipid profile in overweight and obese men. METHODS: Fifty-two young sedentary men with excess body weight (Body mass index [BMI]≥25 kg·m−2) were enrolled in a randomized-crossover controlled trial [six weeks of a systematic physical exercise with S. maxima or placebo supplementation (4.5 g·day−1)]. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), BMI, blood lipid profile (total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], low-density lipoproteins cholesterol [LDL-C], high-density lipoproteins cholesterol [HDL-C]), and their correlations were determined pre/post intervention. RESULTS: After the study, obese subjects showed statistical differences (p<0.01, basal vs. final) in BMI (33.3±3.8 vs. 30.1±4.9 kg·m−2), VO2max (30.8±5.6 vs. 34.7±6.2 mL·min−1·kg−1), and blood lipids (mg·dL−1): TC (218±30 vs. 184±33), TG (150±46 vs. 127±35), LDL-C (158±31 vs. 122±34), and HDL-C (32.5±10.9 vs. 38.6±9.6). Moreover, according to the correlation analysis (p<0.01), in the exercise and S. maxima supplementation group, BMI decrease as VO2max increase (r=-0.492), TC and LDL-C decrease linearly (r=0.798), finally, while LDL-C levels decrease, HDL-C increases (r=-0.690). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the S. maxima supplementation could be acting in a synergistic way with exercise due to the enhanced effects on body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and blood lipid profile, this phenomenon should be considered to reduce risk of cardiovascular disorders. The study protocol was approved by the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez review board (Bioethics Committee Code: CBE.ICB/062.09-15) and carried out following the declaration of Helsinki, and the trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (Trial ID: NCT02837666).