The effects of spirulina under high-intensity interval training on levels of nesfatin-1, omentin-1, and lipid profiles in overweight and obese females: A randomized, controlled, single-blind trial
Question
Do 4 weeks of HIIT plus spirulina versus HIIT plus placebo change nesfatin-1, omentin-1, lipid profile, and body composition in overweight and obese females?
Summary
In 20 overweight or obese young women, 4 weeks of RAST-style sprint running HIIT increased omentin-1 in both spirulina and placebo groups, while nesfatin-1 increased only with spirulina. Lipid levels did not improve, no important harms were reported, and the short study without a non-exercise control should be interpreted cautiously.
Methodology
- Overweight and obese young women from a university sample
- 20 participants.
- Running sprints.
- Work intervals: 35-meter maximal sprint.
- Recovery: 10 seconds active rest; 3 minutes between sets.
- Intensity: 100% maximum speed.
- Varied; includes 15-minute warm-up and 15-minute cool-down.
- 3 sessions/week.
- 4 weeks.
- Randomized quasi-experimental controlled single-blind pre-post trial
- Nesfatin-1, Omentin-1, Lipid profile, and Body composition were tracked.
Outcomes
Nesfatin-1
Nesfatin-1 increased in the spirulina group and differed between groups.
HIIT+spirulina +0.99 mg/dL, p<0.001; between groups p=0.04.
Omentin-1
Omentin-1 increased in both groups, without a significant between-group difference.
HIIT+spirulina p<0.001; HIIT+placebo p=0.03; between groups p=0.49.
Lipids
Total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, and HDL-C did not significantly change.
Inter- and intragroup lipid differences p>0.05.
Body fat
Body fat percentage decreased in both groups, without significant between-group differences.
HIIT+spirulina -3.57%, p<0.001; HIIT+placebo -2.21%, p=0.01; intergroup p>0.05.
Harms
No unintended or important harms were reported.
0 reported important harms.
Insights
- Short sprint-running HIIT may move some adipokine markers but should not be framed as improving lipids in 4 weeks.
- Set-count progression over weeks is a usable internal workout-generation pattern for appropriate runners.
- Supplement effects should remain separate from exercise claims.
Limitations
- Small sample.
- No non-exercise control group.
- Diet was not strictly controlled.
- Short intervention duration.
- Body fat estimation method was less accurate than DEXA or MRI.
Safety
- No unintended or important harms were reported in either group.
- Participants were screened to exclude chronic disease and exercise-limiting medical conditions.
- Warm-up and cool-down were each 15 minutes.