The Muscle Mag
The combined intervention group reported substantial reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TGL) levels. These improvements were significantly better than groups administered spirulina or exercise alone, indicating that the combination may lead to amplified beneficial clinical outcomes.
The researchers concluded that Spirulina supplementation, in combination with high-intensity interval training, reduced adipokine levels, improved body weight and BMI, and enhanced lipid profiles over a 12-week study period.
They emphasized the potential of Spirulina supplementation and high-intensity interval training as a synergistic strategy to improve obesity-related complications and enhance overall cardiometabolic well-being in obese males.
Obesity and health
The modern world’s obesity epidemic represents a significant public health crisis, with a significant risk of developing noncommunicable disorders such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and stroke.
The pathogenesis of obesity involves modifications to circulating adipokines and cytokines, with increases in inflammatory types like C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF alpha), and Interleukin-6 (IL-6). Oxidative stress, particularly from reactive oxygen species (ROS), plays a key role in obesity-related inflammation.
Studies have investigated dietary antioxidants as a therapeutic strategy to reduce ROS levels and reverse the pro-oxidative state of cells. Spirulina, known for its antioxidant attributes, has shown evidence of reducing blood lipid levels, body fat, BMI, and appetite.
Exercise is also known to alleviate stress and inflammation, with spirulina reported to enhance exercise performance and fat oxidation.
The researchers sought to explore the effects of combining high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with spirulina supplementation on markers of cardiometabolic health, anthropometric measures, and adipokines and cytokines.
Study
44 obese male participants were recruited and randomly assigned to four groups: the control group (CG), supplement group (SG), training group (TG), and training and supplement group (TSG). The training groups underwent a 12-week exercise program with three HIIT sessions per week, while the supplemented groups received a daily 6g spirulina supplement.
Metabolic parameters, anthropometric measurements, cardiorespiratory indices, and circulating adipokines were measured before and after the intervention. Significant reductions in body weight and adipokine levels were observed in all intervention groups, with the combined training and supplementation group showing the most substantial improvements in lipid levels.
Significance
The researchers concluded that the combination of HIIT and Spirulina led to more significant improvements in cardiometabolic health outcomes compared to using either intervention alone. They highlighted the need for further research to explore the mechanisms behind these improvements and the potential of spirulina in enhancing adipokine levels.
Source: Nutrients
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15234891
“Spirulina Supplementation with High-Intensity Interval Training Decreases Adipokines Levels and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Men with Obesity”
by Rashmi Supriya, Maryam Delfan, Ayoub Saeidi, Seyedeh Somayeh Samaie, Maisa Hamed Al Kiyumi, Kurt A. Escobar, Ismail Laher, Katie M. Heinrich, Katja Weiss, Beat Knechtle, and Hassane Zouhal
