Abstract
PurposeSpirulina has previously been reported to improve high-intensity exercise performance and hemoglobin. However, spirulina’s effect on arm cycling exercise has yet to be investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the responses of spirulina supplementation on hemoglobin and on oxygen uptake, RER and HR during seated arm cycling exercise.MethodsIn a double-blinded randomized crossover design, eleven males untrained in arm cycling ingested 6 g/day of spirulina or placebo for seven days. Seated on the Arm Crank Ergometer, each participant performed a baseline V̇O2max test, and then after supplementation, 2 × 30-min submaximal exercise bouts corresponding to 55% of their V̇O2max, followed by an incremental test to fatigue. A seven-day wash-out period was required between conditions. Oxygen uptake, RER and HR were measured continuously during exercise and hemoglobin measured prior to exercise after both conditions.ResultsSpirulina significantly (p < 0.05) increased Hb in comparison to Placebo (144.1 g/l ± 10.5 Vs 154.5 g/l ± 6.9). After spirulina supplementation, during the 30-min exercise bouts, oxygen uptake and HR were significantly lower (2170 ml/min ± 173 Vs 2311 ml/min ± 189 and 154 bpm ± 14 Vs 149 bpm ± 17), RER was not significantly different. In comparison to placebo, Spirulina significantly increased oxygen uptake at time of fatigue (34.10 ml/min/kg ± 6.03 Vs 37.37 ml/min/kg ± 5.98). Time taken to fatigue was not different.ConclusionSpirulina supplementation significantly reduces oxygen uptake and HR during arm cycling submaximal exercise, allowing for an increased oxygen uptake during an incremental test to fatigue.
Highlights
Global demand for algae is continuously increasing and it has been reported that algae is being consumed beyond the traditional benefits for nutrition and health (Wells et al 2016)
A double-blind randomized cross-over design was employed to examine the influences of SP supplementation on blood Hb and respiratory variables, during a 30-min bout of submaximal upper body cycling exercise at 55% VO2max, followed by an incremental test to fatigue using Arm Crank Ergometry (ACE)
There was no interaction for supplement and time (P > 0.05). This appears to be the first study to investigate the ergogenic capability of SP and its relationship for improving Hb whilst comparing key respiratory variables during arm cycling exercise
Summary
Global demand for algae is continuously increasing and it has been reported that algae is being consumed beyond the traditional benefits for nutrition and health (Wells et al 2016). The ergogenic aid capabilities of SP have previously been explored in running and cycling whereby increases in time to fatigue and/or exhaustion were reported (Lu et al 2006; Kalafati et al 2010; Hernández-Lepe et al 2018). Considering previous research has demonstrated positive outcomes in blood morphological parameters, such as Hb, after SP supplementation (Kelkar et al 2008; Milasius et al 2009; Selmi et al 2011); far, researchers have failed to consider that these small increases in Hb from SP may be the ergogenic aid for athletes
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