The Effects of Spirulina Platensis on Several Biochemical Parameters in Male Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet

Abstract

Spirulina is a blue-green alga which grow in alkaline environment. It characterizes by being highly rich with divers nutrients, elements, vitamins, and pigments which are very beneficial, thus it is used as nutrition supplements and therapeutics purposes for human and animals as well. The objective of this study was to evaluate its effects on blood components, vitamin D, and lipid profile in rich fed rats. Eighteen Wistar male rats were used in this study and they were divided to three groups, each consist of six animals. The first group was control, the second and third groups were administered spirulina suspension 1gm/kg of b.w. and 1.5 gm/kg of b.w, respectively for twenty-eight constitutive days. Blood samples were collected from fasted animals at the end of experiment, 29th day, 24 hrs after the last dose of administration. Whole blood picture was used to measure blood compositions, while serum was used to measure the concentration of lipid profile and vitamin D3. Results regarding blood components shown that the high dose 1.5 g/kg of b.w. caused significant increase in RBC, HGB, MCH, and MCHC measurements comparing to the control group. Also spirulina concentration 1.5 g/kg of b.w. resulted in significant decrease in two types of lipids including TRI and VLDL comparing to control groups. The findings indicated that spirulina showed positive effects on blood contents and also improved certain lipids by shifting their concentrations. These results may attribute to spirulina contents of main nutrients, minerals, vitamins and its antioxidant compounds.