The Effect of Exercise and Spirulina Supplementation on Blood Lipid Profile of Young Men

Abstract

Spirulina is a cylindrical filamentous microalgae that is found in lakes and is the richest plant food in protein. Furthermore, spirulina is high in tocophoerols, beta-carotene, cyanobacteria, alpha-linolenic acid and several other micronutrients. It is not clear whether spirulina supplementation exerts significant effects on the lipid profile and protect from cardiac episodes. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of spirulina supplementation on blood lipids of young men. Nine healthy young men (age = 23.3 + 1.7 years; Height = = 174.3 ± 1.7 cm; Weight = 70.7 ± 1.9 kg; % body fat = 9.8 ± 1.3%; VO2max = 52.2 ± 1.8 mL•kg¬1 min¬1) participated. Participants received daily either spirulina (6 grams per day) or placebo for 4 weeks. Blood was collected prior to and 4 weeks after supplementation in order to analyze for blood lipids. In addition, the effects of long duration (2 hours), acute sub-maximal (70-75% VO2max) aerobic exercise on blood lipids was examined. Blood samples were collected before, immediately after, 24 and 48 hours after exercise. Triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were assessed. The results showed no significant changes in any of the variables assessed. Exercise resulted in significant (p<0.05) increase of total cholesterol and HDL immediately after exercise and in significant increase of total cholesterol 1 hour and 24 hours after the end of exercise. These results suggest that blood lipids of healthy young men are not significantly altered following 4 weeks of spirulina supplementation. Longer supplementation period or different doses could lead to different results.