Effect of Arthrospira (Spirulina) maxima Supplementation and a Systematic Physical Exercise Program on the Body Composition and Cardiorespiratory Fitness of Overweight or Obese Subjects: A Double-Blind, Randomized, and Crossover Controlled Trial

• Published in: Marine drugs Vol. 16; no. 10; p. 364
• Main Authors: Hernández-Lepe, Marco Antonio, López-Díaz, José Alberto, Juárez-Oropeza, Marco Antonio, Hernández-Torres, Rosa Patricia, Wall-Medrano, Abraham, Ramos-Jiménez, Arnulfo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 01.10.2018; MDPI AG
• Subjects: Adult; Body Composition - drug effects; Body Composition - physiology; body fat; Body Mass Index; Body Weight - drug effects; Body Weight - physiology; Cardiorespiratory Fitness - physiology; Dietary Supplements; double-blind; Double-Blind Method; Exercise - physiology; Exercise Therapy - methods; Humans; Male; maximal oxygen uptake; obesity; Obesity - drug therapy; Obesity - physiopathology; Overweight; Overweight - drug therapy; Overweight - physiopathology; randomized controlled trial; Spirulina - chemistry; Weight Loss - drug effects; Weight Loss - physiology; maximal oxygen uptake; double-blind; obesity; Overweight; body fat; randomized controlled trial
• ISSN: 1660-3397; 1660-3397
• DOI: 10.3390/md16100364

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 of supplementation (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 the supplemented 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. Clinical Trials, NCT02837666. Registered 19 July 2016.