Spirulina Improves Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Obese Hypertension Patients

by | May 31, 2019 | 2017, Blood Lipids, Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Health, Obesity, Spirulina

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Compared to the control, spirulina significantly improved insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, and total antioxidant status in obese patients with well-treated hypertension. 

spirulinaA multi-factorial disease, obesity involves various causative factors. Increasingly, however, obesity is being framed as a condition developing from chronic low-level inflammation and oxidative stress 1. Inflammatory processes are known to contribute to endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance 2, increasing risk of hypertension and cardiovascular events, especially in overweight individuals. A growing number of studies have recognized the ability of certain nutraceuticals to reduce cardiovascular risk by improving vascular endothelium function 3. Spirulina maxima (Arthrospira maxima), a type of blue-green algae found in freshwater environments, is rich in protein, essential nutrients, and powerful antioxidants known to protect against cellular damage 4. Spirulina also modulates nitric oxide (NO) release by the endothelium and is reported to improve vascular inflammation 5, serum blood lipids 6, and fasting blood glucose 7. Animal studies suggest that the cyanobacterium may also improve blood pressure 8, and more recent work has shown that its favorable effects on endothelium function and blood pressure are also apparent in overweight subjects with hypertension 9. A follow-up investigation (2017) looking at the promising effects of spirulina supplementation evaluated the impact of Spirulina maxima on insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, and biomarkers of oxidative stress in obese subjects with hypertension.

A total of 50 obese individuals (aged 25 to 60 years) with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 and well-controlled hypertension were recruited in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either four capsules of Hawaiian Spirulina maxima (60-70% protein; gamma-linolenic acid, GLA; beta-carotene) or matching placebo daily for 3 months. At baseline and at 3-month follow-up, researchers assessed anthropometric parameters (BMI; waist circumference, WC) and fasting blood samples were taken in order to determine total antioxidant status (TAS), interleukin 6 (IL-6), plasma insulin and insulin sensitivity, and lipid profile (total cholesterol, TC; low-density and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C and HDL-C; triglycerides, TG). Diet was evaluated every two weeks through dietary intake interviews.

After 3 months of supplementation with spirulina, a significant decrease was evident in body mass (p < 0.001), BMI (p < 0.001), and WC (p = 0.002). The spirulina-treated group also demonstrated significant reductions in TC (p < 0.001), LDL-C (p < 0.001), and IL-6 (p = 0.002) concentration levels, relative to placebo.  Finally, in comparison to the placebo group, individuals receiving spirulina exhibited significant improvement in TAS (p = 0.001) and insulin sensitivity ratio. ANOVA analysis confirmed a significant group x time interaction for TAS, insulin sensitivity, and LDL-C in favor of the spirulina group (0.001, 0.001, and 0.024, respectively).

The present study yields promising evidence for the benefits of spirulina supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors such as insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, and oxidative stress status in obese, hypertensive individuals. Three months of spirulina intake was found to be sufficient to induce hypoglycemic effects, reduce biomarkers of inflammation (IL-6), and increase serum levels of TAS. The widespread action of spirulina suggests that it should be considered as a potential adjuvant treatment for other cardiometabolic conditions such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or type 2 diabetes. As an exploratory study, the present trial was limited by a relatively small size and examined only the short-term effects of spirulina supplementation. Future studies accounting for these study limitations would be valuable, as would further exploration of the mechanism underlying spirulina’s therapeutic effects on insulin sensitivity.

Source: Szulinska M, Gibas-Dorna M, Miller-Kasprzak E, et al. Spirulina maxima improves insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, and total antioxidant status in obese patients with well-treated hypertension: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2017; 21: 2473-2481.

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Posted May 31, 2019

 

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.
 

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