Spirulina may increase people's ability to resist mental and physical fatigue. This study tested that hypothesis in a randomized, double blinded, placebo controlled study in men. After 1 week, a 3 g/day dose of spirulina produced a small, but statistically significant increase in exercise output (Kcals consumed in 30 min exercise on a cross trainer machine). A mathematical based mental fatigue test showed improved performance 4 h after the first time of supplementation as well as 8 weeks later. Similarly, a subjective survey for a sense of physical and mental fatigue showed improvement within 4 h of the first supplementation as well as 8 weeks later. These results show that spirulina intake can affect fatigue in men.

:Excess weight and obesity are major risk factors for many chronic diseases, and weight-loss interventions often include systematic exercise and nutritional supplements. The purpose of this study was to determine the independent/synergistic effects ofsupplementation (six weeks, 4.5 g·day) and a systematic physical exercise program (six weeks, twice weekly) on the body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness of overweight and obese subjects. To achieve this, 27 overweight and 25 obese sedentary male subjects were assigned to four interventions through a randomized double-blind, crossover controlled trial: A physical exercise program, with (SE) or without (Ex); or no-exercise program, with (Sm) and without (C). The body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness parameters were taken during a maximum intensity test. As compared to the C group, the body fat percentage of the SE, Sm and Ex groups was reduced (<0.05), while their maximal oxygen uptake improved (= -0.40), and obese subjects benefited more significantly. Weight loss, the time to reach fatigue and the onset of blood lactate accumulation were improved in both of thesupplemented groups, regardless of the subjects' body weight.supplementation synergistically improves the effects of systematic exercise on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness parameters in overweight, but mostly in individuals with obesity.

TRIAL REGISTRATION:Clinical Trials, NCT02837666. Registered 19 July 2016.

Low-fat diets, lipid-modifying nutraceuticals and a higher level of physical activity are often recommended to reduce dyslipidemia. A double-blind, randomized, crossover, controlled trial was designed to evaluate the independent and synergistic effects of()supplementation (4.5 g·day) with or without performing a physical exercise program (: aerobic exercise (3 days·week) + high-intensity interval training (2 days·week)) on blood lipids and BMI of 52 sedentary men with excess body weight. During six weeks, all participants were assigned to four intervention treatments (with PEP (SE), placebo with PEP (Ex),without PEP (Sm), placebo without PEP (C; control)) and plasma lipids were evaluated spectrophotometrically pre- vs. post intervention in stratified subgroups (overweight, obese and dyslipidemic subjects). Pre/post comparisons showed significant reductions in all plasma lipids in the SE group, particularly in those with dyslipidemia (≤ 0.043). Comparing the final vs. the initial values, BMI, total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were decreased. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased in all treatment groups compared to C. Changes were observed mostly in SE interventions, particularly in dyslipidemic subjects (<0.05).supplementation enhances the hypolipidemic effect of a systematic PEP in men with excess body weight and dyslipidemia.

Spirulina evaluated as a source of vitamin Bthrough the modulation of vitamin Bdeficiency mediated physiological and biochemical changes in experimental animals. The Bdeficient male weanling Wistar rats were fed with Spirulina-supplemented diet for 10 weeks. An increase in urinary methylmalonic acid (22.70 ± 4.08 µmol/moles of creatinine) and plasma homocysteine (16.55 ± 0.48 µmol/L) levels in the Bdeficient group was observed, while these were equal to control in the Spirulina fed group (8.71 ± 0.48 µmol/mol of creatinine and 6.88 ± 1.18 µmol/L, respectively). The vitamin Blevels in serum (874.27 ± 89.69), plasma (615.53 ± 26.5 pg/ml), kidney (10.19 ± 1.066 ng/g), and liver tissues (6.37 ± 0.62 ng/g) in the Spirulina fed group were similar to control. Severe atrophic changes in the testes and altered tissue architecture in lung and spleen as seen in the Bdeficient group were normalized in the Spirulina fed group. The study validates that Spirulina can improve the vitamin Bstatus.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The present study showed that the supplementation of Spirulina in the diet of vitamin Bdeficient rats leads to the normalization of vitamin Bdeficiency-induced circulatory and functional biomarkers along with biochemical and histological changes. Vegetarian sources for vitamin Bare limited and the results presented here provide scientific validation for the use of Spirulina as a potential vegetarian source of bioavailable vitamin B.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the roles of BDNF/TrkB neurotrophic signaling in hippocampal injury for fatigue rats induced by incremental load exercise and the protective effects and mechanism of spirulina supplement.

METHODS:Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NC), normal plus spirulina group(NS), exercise model group (EM), exercise plus spirulina group (ES), and positive control group (PC), 12 rats in each group.Group EM, Group ES and Group PC were applied by treadmill running with high-intensity increasing for three weeks, and Group NC had not any intervention measures.Group ES and Group NS were treated with spirulina at a dose of 300 mg/kg.bw.by intragastric administration.Group PC was gavaged at the same volume of ginseng extract of 1.92 g/kg for three weeks.The expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine kinase recptor (TrkB), phospho-tyrosine kinase recptor (p-TrkB) were tested by Western blot and immunohistochemical method, and micromorphology changes of hippocampal CA1 were observed by light microscope at the end of the experiment.The general situations of rats such as body weights were recorded during the experiment.

RESULTS:Compared with Group NC, Group EM showed significantly decrease in body weight and hippocampal CA1 neurons of the group loosely arrayed and disarrayed and some neurons were shrinked, and even some neurons disappeared.The expressions of BDNF, TrkB and p-TrkB in group EM were increased significantly(<0.01).Compared with Group EM, body weight of Group ES was increased significantly, and the above mentioned injuries of neurons were improved significantly:the number of neurons and nissl bodies were significantly increased and the neurons arrayed regularly and its morphology was more complete.The expressions of BDNF, TrkB and p-TrkB in the group were increased significantly(<0.05 or<0.01).And there was no difference between Group ES and Group PC.

CONCLUSIONS:BDNF/TrkB neurotrophic signal pathway could be involved in the repair process of hippocampal nervous damage caused by incremental load exercise for fatigue rats.Spirulina supplement had a protective effect on the damaged nervous through increasing the expressions of BDNF, TrkB and p-TrkB.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Spirulina Platensis supplementation on selected blood markers of oxidative stress, muscle damage, inflammation, and performance in trained rats. Rats (250 g - 300 g) were submitted to a strength training program (eight weeks), divided into four groups: control (GT) (trained without supplementation), trained with daily-supplementation of 50 mg/kg (GT50), 150 mg/kg (GT150) and 500 mg/kg (GT500). Training consisted of a jump protocol in PVC-cylinder containing water, with increasing load over experimental weeks. We evaluated the markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde - MDA and antioxidant capacity) and inflammation (C-reactive protein) at the end of the training. Among groups submitted to strength training, concentration of C-reactive protein decreased after 8 weeks of intervention in the trained group and GT500. Strength training enhanced plasma MDA concentration of malondialdehyde with supplementation of S. platensis in GT150 and GT500. In plasma analysis, strength training enhanced the percentage of oxidation inhibition, with spirulina supplementation in rates of 150 and 500 mg/kg. Spirulina supplementation for 8 weeks (in a dose-effect manner) improved antioxidant capacity as well as attenuated exercise-induced increases in ROS and inflammation. As a practical application, the use as high doses did not cause a reduction in positive physiological adaptations to exercise training. Additional studies are necessary to test the application of Spirulina Platensis in other contexts, as collective sports (basketball, football, soccer).

The blue algahas presented several pharmacological activities, highlighting its actions as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. In addition, there are few studies with the influence of strength training on physiological parameters, as intestinal contractility and oxidative cell damage. We evaluated the influence ofsupplementation, strength training, and its association on contractile reactivity of rat ileum, as well as the balance of oxidative stress/antioxidant defenses. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into; sedentary (S); S + supplemented with algae at 50 (S50), 150 (S150), and 500 mg/kg (S500); trained (T); and T + supplemented (T50, T150, and T500). Contractile reactivity was analyzed by kymographs; oxidative stress on ileum by the malondialdehyde (MDA) formation; and the antioxidant capacity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method.supplementation reduced the reactivity of rat ileum to carbachol (CCh) and KCl, while training reduced only the CCh efficacy. In addition, association potentiated the reduction on contractile reactivity. Supplementation reduced the oxidative stress and increased oxidation inhibition; training alone did not alter this parameter, however association potentiated this beneficial effect. Therefore, this study demonstrated that both supplementation and its association with strength training promote beneficial effects regarding intestinal contractile reactivity and oxidative stress, providing new insights for intestinal disorders management.

Cardiovascular diseases are part of the highly preventable chronic diseases associated with changes in lifestyle. Within them, physical activity, low-fat and high-fiber diets are distinguished as the main support for prevention, even when supplementation with nutraceuticals has become a very common practice. Fifty-two young sedentary men with excess body weight (body mass index (BMI)≥ 25 kg·m) were enrolled in a randomized-crossover controlled trial [six weeks of a systematic physical exercise withor placebo supplementation (4.5 g·day)]. Body composition, blood lipid profile, and maximal oxygen uptake were determined pre/post intervention. Pairwise comparisons showed a significant improvement (<0.01) on blood lipid profile in the group of exercise plus. Moreover, correlations of absolute changes of BMI, body fat percentage, blood lipids and maximal oxygen uptake were statistically significant (<0.01). These results indicate that thesupplementation could be acting in a synergistic way with exercise due to the enhanced effects on body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and blood lipid profile. This phenomenon should be considered to reduce risk of cardiovascular disorders. Trial registration: Clinical Trials, NCT02837666 (July 19, 2016).