Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications. Exercise and anti-oxidant supplements are two potential approaches to delay the development of T2DM. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interaction effects of spirulina supplementation and high intensity interval training (HIIT) on oxidative stress and total antioxidant capacity in inactive women with T2DM.

This research was a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest control group design. Our study subjects were 55 women with T2DM (age of 51.95 ± 5.57 years and BMI of 30.55 ± 4.63 kg/m2) that were randomly divided into 4 groups: 1- exercise and spirulina (n= 15), 2- spirulina (n= 15), 3- placebo (n= 15), 4-control (n= 10) without exercise and supplementation. Participants received 2 grams spirulina supplement per day. Training program included three sessions pre-week walking and running on a treadmill for 4 weeks, each session consisted of 10 minutes of warming and 10 minutes of cooling with a 50-70% HRR intensity and 25 minutes of HIIT (The training interval of 4-minute sections with 85-95 % HRR intensity and 3-minute active rest sections, with 50-70 % HRR intensity). All evaluations were performed with SPSS statistical software using analysis of covariance to assess between-group differences and t-test to assess within-group differences.

Our study results showed that the plasma level of MDA decreased significantly in the exercise + placebo group compared to the control group (P= 0.03). However, the level of TAC was not changed significantly in our experimental groups compared to the control group (P= 0.7).

Based on the findings of this study the spirulina supplementation and HIIT can be good stimuli for reducing oxidative stress in women with T2DM.