Ergogenic and antioxidant effects of spirulina supplementation in humans.
OBJECTIVE
Spirulina is a popular nutritional supplement that is accompanied by claiMSS for antioxidant and performance-enhancing effects. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the effect of spirulina supplementation on (i) exercise performance, (ii) substrate metabolism, and (iii) blood redox status both at rest and after exercise.


METHODS
Nine moderately trained males took part in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced crossover study. Each subject received either spirulina (6 g x d(-1)) or placebo for 4 wk. Each subject ran on a treadmill at an intensity corresponding to 70%-75% of their VO2max for 2 h and then at 95% VO2max to exhaustion. Exercise performance and respiratory quotient during exercise were measured after both placebo and spirulina supplementation. Blood samples were drawn before, immediately after, and at 1, 24, and 48 h after exercise. Reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), GSH/GSSG, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyls, catalase activity, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined.


RESULTS
Time to fatigue after the 2-h run was significantly longer after spirulina supplementation (2.05 +/- 0.68 vs 2.70 +/- 0.79 min). Ingestion of spirulina significantly decreased carbohydrate oxidation rate by 10.3% and increased fat oxidation rate by 10.9% during the 2-h run compared with the placebo trial. GSH levels were higher after the spirulina supplementation compared with placebo at rest and 24 h after exercise. TBARS levels increased after exercise after placebo but not after spirulina supplementation. Protein carbonyls, catalase, and TAC levels increased similarly immediately after and 1 h after exercise in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Spirulina supplementation induced a significant increase in exercise performance, fat oxidation, and GSH concentration and attenuated the exercise-induced increase in lipid peroxidation.
Kalafati
Maria
M
Institute of Human Performance and Rehabilitation, Center for Research and Technology - Thessaly, Trikala, Greece.
Jamurtas
Athanasios Z
AZ
Nikolaidis
Michalis G
MG
Paschalis
Vassilis
V
Theodorou
Anastasios A
AA
Sakellariou
Giorgos K
GK
Koutedakis
Yiannis
Y
Kouretas
Dimitris
D
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D010919:Placebos; D050050:Protein Carbonylation / Q000187:drug effects; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D053545:Spirulina; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D000975:Antioxidants; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D010919:Placebos; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D002374:Catalase; D005978:Glutathione