Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant Capacity of Spirulina and Exercise

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that Spirulina maxima intake and a dosed physical activity program will decrease, both independently and synergistically, cardiovascular risks (Dyslipidemias and oxidative stress) in overweight and obese subjects.

Detailed Description
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Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, being dyslipidemias, oxidative stress, sedentary lifestyle and obesity primary risk factors. As a way to reduce cardiovascular diseases risk factors, the intake of antioxidants that come from a fruit and vegetable-rich diet or nutritional supplements, have been proposed; in this sense, the cyanobacterium Spirulina maxima is an important source of antioxidants, which is currently associated with cardiovascular protection properties. Furthermore, physical exercise at moderated intensity has protective effect exerted against cardiovascular diseases risks, mainly due to physiological adaptations, including expression of antioxidant enzymes, which stop formation and propagation of radicals, improving redox status of the organism. There is evidence that Spirulina maxima, in addition to exercise, decreases cardiovascular diseases risks, this was mainly observed in animal models. However, no studies in humans under Spirulina maxima and exercise experimental designs proving these benefits are reported. Therefore this study will analyze the independent and synergistic effect of the intake of Spirulina maxima with a program of physical exercise at moderated intensity on general fitness, plasma lipid profile and antioxidant capacity in overweight and obese subjects. Methods/design: Through a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, counterbalanced crossover study design, 80 healthy overweight and obese subjects will be assessed during a 12 week isoenergetic diet, accompanied by 4.5 g/day Spirulina maxima intake and/or a systematic physical exercise program at moderate intensity. Body composition, VO2 consumption, heart rate, blood lactate, plasma concentrations of triacylglycerols, total, low and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, antioxidant status, lipid oxidation, protein carbonyls, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and paraoxonase will be assessed. Discussion: Spirulina maxima and exercise are good alternatives to improve general fitness, to prevent or lessen dyslipidemia and oxidative stress in subjects with risk factor of chronic or noncommunicable diseases. However the independent and synergistic effect of Spirulina maxima with exercise against dyslipidemias and stress in overweight and obesity is not yet known.

Official Title
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Independent and Synergistic Effect of Spirulina Maxima With Exercise on General Fitness, Lipid Profile and Antioxidant Capacity in Overweight and Obese Subjects

Conditions
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Cardiovascular Diseases

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: Supplementation with Spirulina maxima
* Other: Washout
* Other: Supplementation with placebo
* Other: Isoenergetic diet
* Other: Exercise program


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Overweight (Body mass index (BMI): 25-29.9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI: > 30 kg/m2) persons Exclusion Criteria: Taking drugs and/or food or vitamin supplements diabetes have a physical or electrocardiographic injury that prevents them from engaging in regular physical exercise

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Exercise group and supplementation<br>Supplementation with Spirulina maxima Supplementation with placebo Group with exercise program and supplementation with Spirulina maxima or placebo (4.5 g/d) in capsules during 6 weeks, then a 2 weeks washout, to finally proceed to the other treatment during 6 more weeks. During the 14 weeks of study duration every participant will have a personal isoenergetic diet. | Dietary Supplement: Supplementation with Spirulina maxima<br>* Supplementation with Spirulina maxima (4.5 g/d) in capsules during 6 weeks.<br>Other: Washout<br>* 2 weeks washout period to each study subject to avoid any possible carryover effect.<br>Other: Supplementation with placebo<br>* Supplementation with placebo (4.5 g/d) in capsules during 6 weeks.<br>Other: Isoenergetic diet<br>* All participants will have a personal isoenergetic diet according to their height, weight, body composition and daily physical activity during 14 weeks<br>Other: Exercise program<br>* Participants are going to exercise five days a week with the following protocol: Between 5 and 10 min of heating exercise, Between 20-30 min anaerobic exercise and 20-30 min of aerobic exercise (cardiovascular exercise): walking, jogging, running and/or cycling, Three days a week aerobic intensities will be between 60% and 80% and two days between 70% and 90% of the maximum heart rate reserve, and five final minutes of stretching.<br>|
| Active Comparator: No exercise group and supplementation<br>Supplementation with Spirulina maxima Supplementation with placebo Group without exercise program and supplementation with Spirulina maxima or placebo (4.5 g/d) in capsules during 6 weeks, then a 2 weeks washout, to finally proceed to the other treatment during 6 more weeks. During the 14 weeks of study duration every participant will have a personal isoenergetic diet. | Dietary Supplement: Supplementation with Spirulina maxima<br>* Supplementation with Spirulina maxima (4.5 g/d) in capsules during 6 weeks.<br>Other: Washout<br>* 2 weeks washout period to each study subject to avoid any possible carryover effect.<br>Other: Supplementation with placebo<br>* Supplementation with placebo (4.5 g/d) in capsules during 6 weeks.<br>Other: Isoenergetic diet<br>* All participants will have a personal isoenergetic diet according to their height, weight, body composition and daily physical activity during 14 weeks<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in lipid profile | Change in plasma triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, high density lipoproteins cholesterol, and low density lipoproteins cholesterol after each treatment by using standardized enzymatic methods | 14 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| General fitness assessed by change in maximum oxygen consumption | Change in maximum oxygen consumption by using a gas analyzer (Cortex Metalizer 3B) | 14 weeks | 
| General fitness assessed by change in heart rate | Change in heart rate by using a pulsometer (Polar HT7) | 14 weeks | 
| General fitness assessed by change in lactate | Change in lactate concentration by using an automatized method (YSI lactate analyzer-1600) | 14 weeks | 
| General fitness assessed by change in body mass | Change in body fat mass and body lean mass by using pletysmography (BOD-POD) | 14 weeks | 
| General fitness assessed by change in blood pressure | Change in blood pressure by using an aneroid sphygmomanometer (Edimetric, Medical Technologies) | 14 weeks | 
| Redox status assessed by change in malondialdehyde | Change in malondialdehyde concentration by using standardized specific methods | 14 weeks | 
| Redox status assessed by change in protein carbonyls | Change in protein carbonyls concentration by using standardized specific methods | 14 weeks | 
| Redox status assessed by change in paraoxonase | Change in paraoxonase concentration by using standardized specific methods | 14 weeks | 
| Redox status assessed by change in superoxide dismutase | Change in superoxide dismutase concentration by using standardized specific methods | 14 weeks | 
| Redox status assessed by change in catalase | Change in catalase concentration by using standardized specific methods | 14 weeks | 
| Redox status assessed by change in glutathione | Change in glutathione concentration by using standardized specific methods | 14 weeks | 
| Redox status assessed by change in glutathione reductase | Change in glutathione reductase concentration by using standardized specific methods | 14 weeks | 
| Redox status assessed by change in glutathione peroxidase | Change in glutathione peroxidase concentration by using standardized specific methods | 14 weeks |