The effect of 12 weeks of combined training and spirulina supplementation on Irizin, PGC1-α and some body composition indices of obese men

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of twelve weeks of combined training and spirulina supplementation on Irizin, PGC1-α and some body composition indices of obese men.In this applied and quasi-experimental study, 60 obese men with body mass index above 28 kg / m2, were purposefully selected and randomly divided into four groups; Combined exercise + spirulina, combined exercise + placebo, spirulina and control group. The training protocol was a combination of aerobic (endurance) training and resistance training for 12 weeks, 3 sessions per week and each session for 60 minutes. Exercise and spirulina groups took two 500 mg spirulina and placebo capsules daily, respectively. The aerobic exercise program consisted of running on a treadmill for 20 minutes with an intensity equivalent to 60 to 75% of the reserved heart rate. Also, resistance training includes 10 stationary movements in a circle with intensity equal to 60 to 80% of 1RM with 10 repetitions per movement for 2 consecutive sets with a rest time of 30 seconds between each station and a total of 2 minutes between each round. Body composition indices were also measured before and after exercises. 10 ml of blood was taken from the antecubital vein of the left arm after 12 hours of fasting. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 24 and Shapiro-Wilk statistical tests, one-way analysis of variance, LSD and paired t-test.According to one-way analysis of variance, plasma levels of Irisin (p = 0.019) and body weight (p = 0.004) were significantly different between different groups, but BMI and WHR were not significantly different (05 / 0≤p). Accordingly, plasma levels of Irizin and PGC1-α, WHR and BMI showed a significant difference between exercise + spirulina and exercise + placebo groups, as well as body weight values for exercise + spirulina, exercise + placebo and spirulina groups.The findings of the present study showed that with increasing muscle endurance due to repetition or due to anabolic nature of resistance training or increase in lean muscle mass, Irisin secretion followed by PGC1-α may increase. Following an increase in PGC1-α, an increase in the FNDC5 membrane protein occurs in muscle, which leads to the production and release of Irisin into the bloodstream. The reason for the increase in Irisin in the PGC1-α response to exercise is probably to be found, which has been the stimulus for this type of exercise.