effect of spirulina supplementation on metabolic syndrom in mice

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of health conditions, including hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and obesity that can lead to serious diseases. In our study, we investigated the effect of spirulina, an edible microalgae, rich in protein and antioxidants, on metabolic syndrome in mice. Before administering spirulina to the mice, Phytochemical analyses and antioxidant activity using DPPH and FRAP assays were conducted. The metabolic syndrome (MetS) was induced by feeding mice with a high-fat and high-fructose diet. Concomitantly, spirulina (1000 mg/kg/days) was administered orally during for 28 days. After sacrificing the mice, glycemic and lipid profile in addition to liver transaminases were evaluated. Oxidative stress parameters were also assessed. The results showed that spirulina exhibits in vitro antioxidant potential. In addition, spirulina significantly increases the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and improves catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. Additionally, spirulina also shows a slight decrease in blood glucose levels and improves the entry of glucose into the tissues. It also reduces triglyceride levels and contributes to a reduction in liver body weight percentage and body mass index while maintaining weight gain. Although, the duration of four weeks was not sufficient to induce significant MetS changes in mice but there were signs of developing these conditions, and spirulina shows a positive effect against these features.