Effect of Spirulina Supplementation and Aerobic Training on Oxidative Stress in Overweight Elderly Men

Aging and overweight are associated with an increase in oxidative stress indices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Spirulina supplementation (SP) with aerobic exercise (AT) on oxidative stress in overweight elderly men.

In this clinical trial study, 40 overweight adult men (age 57.41±4.82 years, Body mass index: BMI 27.88±2.21 kg/m2) were selected from Bandar-e-Anzali and randomly allocated into four groups; including Overweight (OW), Overweight-Aerobic Training (OWAT), Overweight-Spirulina (OWSP) and Overweight-Aerobic Training -Spirulina (OWATSP). The OWSP and OWATSP groups were provided with two 500 mg SP tablets daily in the morning and evening. Training groups participated in an aerobic exercise program for eight weeks, five sessions per week (with an intensity of 65 to 85% of peak heart rate, 40 minutes). Data were analyzed using ANCOVA at a significance level of P<0.05.

It was shown that AT and SP increased SOD (P=0.001 and P=0.011), GPX (P=0.0001 and P=0.0001) and CAT (P=0.005 and P=0.018). Simultaneous intervention of AT and SP also had a positive and strengthening effect on increasing SOD (P=0.00001), GPX (P=0.00001) and CAT (P=0.0001). MDA also had a significant decrease in OWAT (P = 0.001), OWSP (P = 0.001) and OWATSP (P = 0.0001) groups.

AT and SP could improve the oxidative stress in overweight adult men, by altering the levels of SOD, GPX, CAT and MDA. Nevertheless, the effect of the combination of exercise and supplementation was greater.