Ergogenic and antioxidant effects of spirulina supplementation in humans
Abstract
PURPOSE: 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.
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Kalafati et al. reported that Spirulina supplementation induced a significant increase in exercise performance, fat oxidation, and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration and attenuated the exercise-induced increase in lipid peroxidation in physically active men.
“Kalafati et al. reported that Spirulina supplementation induced a significant increase in exercise performance, fat oxidation, and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration and attenuated the exercise-induced increase in lipid peroxidation in physically active men [102].”
From Application of Arthrospira platensis for Medicinal Purposes and the Food Industry: A Review of the Literature (2023) · cites this paper as [102]
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- Authors
- KALAFATI, M., JAMURTAS, A. Z., NIKOLAIDIS, M. G., PASCHALIS, V., THEODOROU, A. A., SAKELLARIOU, G. K., KOUTEDAKIS, Y., & KOURETAS, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Thessaly (GR)
- University of Wolverhampton (GB)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
- Published
- 2010-01
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 142-151
- ISSN
- 0195-9131 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1993921110
- Cited by
- 130
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 3.74
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- University of Thessaly Institutional Repository (University of Thessaly) (submittedVersion)
- Wolverhampton Intellectual Repository and E-Theses (University of Wolverhampton) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Keywords
- Spirulina, ergogenic aids, antioxidant activity, exercise performance, time to exhaustion, substrate metabolism, fat oxidation, carbohydrate oxidation, lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, protein carbonyls, catalase, total antioxidant capacity, endurance running
- MeSH terms
- Analysis of Variance, Antioxidants, Catalase, Dietary Carbohydrates, Dietary Fats, Double-Blind Method, Fatigue, Glutathione, Humans, Male, Oxygen Consumption, Placebos, Running, Lipid Peroxidation, Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances, Cross-Over Studies, Protein Carbonylation, Spirulina, Young Adult
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