Hypolipidemic Effect of Arthrospira (Spirulina) maxima Supplementation and a Systematic Physical Exercise Program in Overweight and Obese Men: A Double-Blind, Randomized, and Crossover Controlled Trial

Double-blind, randomized, crossover controlled trial in 52 sedentary young adult men from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, all with BMI >= 25 kg/m2 and overweight or obesity; some participants had dyslipidemia. The study compared Spirulina maxima, exercise plus Spirulina, exercise plus placebo, and Spirulina alone across treatment periods.

Arthrospira (Spirulina) maxima was given orally at 4.5 g/day in dark capsules during each 6-week treatment period. The supplement was tested alone and together with a structured 5-day/week physical exercise program in a randomized crossover design.

Spirulina maxima improved the lipid profile, and the largest benefits were seen when it was combined with exercise, especially in dyslipidemic men. In overweight and obese men receiving Spirulina plus exercise, TC fell from 196±35 to 163±33, LDL-C from 128±36 to 93±34, and HDL-C rose from 34±9 to 42±10. In dyslipidemic men in the same arm, TC fell from 226±22 to 189±20, TG from 184±40 to 156±29, LDL-C from 141±29 to 101±34, and HDL-C rose from 30±6 to 40±10. Exercise alone and Spirulina alone also improved some lipid measures, but the combined regimen produced the most consistent overall response; the authors also concluded BMI improved and no adverse effects were reported.

The trial was small, short term, and limited to young sedentary men from a single site, which restricts generalizability. Treatment periods were only 6 weeks, and subgroup analyses had small and variable sample sizes across lipid endpoints, especially in the dyslipidemic subset. BMI results were mentioned in the conclusion, but detailed numeric BMI outcome data were not provided in the extracted packet.