# Effects of 8 Weeks of High-Intensity Interval Training and Spirulina Supplementation on Immunoglobin Levels, Cardio-Respiratory Fitness, and Body Composition of Overweight and Obese Women

PMID: 35205063
Journal: Biology
Published: 2022-01-26
Authors: Nobari H, Gandomani EE, Reisi J, Vahabidelshad R, Suzuki K, Volpe SL, Pérez-Gómez J

## Question

Do 8 weeks of HIIT and/or 6 g/day spirulina supplementation affect humoral immunity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and body composition in sedentary overweight or obese women?

## Summary

Thirty sedentary overweight or obese women were assigned to placebo plus HIIT, spirulina alone, or spirulina plus HIIT for 8 weeks. The HIIT protocol was short running/walking intervals at 90% estimated maximum heart rate, progressing from 4 to 7 repetitions. The clearest reported effects were increased IgA in spirulina groups and reduced fat-free mass in the combined spirulina plus HIIT group; VO2max and most body-composition changes were not statistically highlighted.

## Population

- Sedentary overweight and obese women
- Sample size: 30
- Age: 25.1 +/- 6.7 years
- Sex: Women
- Fitness level: Sedentary
- Health status: BMI 25-35 kg/m2 without specific illness or physical activity medical restrictions

## Methodology

- Quasi-experimental double-blinded baseline/post intervention study
- 8 weeks
- Field training with 20-m shuttle-style running protocol
- Controlled study design.

## Protocol

- HIIT plus spirulina.
- Modality: Running/walking intervals.
- Work intervals: 30 seconds running.
- Recovery: 30 seconds active walking.
- Sets or repetitions: 4-7 repetitions.
- Intensity: 90% maximum heart rate.
- Session duration: 24-27 minutes including warm-up and cool-down.
- Frequency: 3 sessions per week.
- Program length: 8 weeks.
- Progression: 4 reps weeks 1-2; 5 weeks 3-4; 6 weeks 5-6; 7 weeks 7-8.
- Placebo HIIT and spirulina-only.
- Modality: PH used same HIIT; SG had no regular exercise.
- Work intervals: 30 seconds for PH.
- Recovery: 30 seconds for PH.
- Sets or repetitions: 4-7 repetitions for PH.
- Intensity: 90% maximum heart rate for PH.
- Session duration: 24-27 minutes for PH.
- Frequency: 3 sessions per week for PH.
- Program length: 8 weeks.
- Progression: Same HIIT progression for PH; none for SG.

## Outcomes

### IgA
Status: improved
IgA increased significantly in spirulina-only and combined spirulina plus HIIT groups.

Group-by-time p=0.036; CG p=0.02, g=0.70; SG p=0.001, g=0.34.

### FFM
Status: worse/safety concern
Fat-free mass decreased significantly in the spirulina plus HIIT group.

Group-by-time p=0.001; CG p=0.012, g=-0.55.

### IgG
Status: no clear change
IgG did not significantly change, though spirulina groups had medium-to-large percentage changes.

### VO2max
Status: unclear
VO2max increased numerically in HIIT groups, but the main text did not present it as a significant finding.

PH 21.8 +/- 3.4 to 23.4 +/- 1.8; CG 23.2 +/- 2.1 to 25.6 +/- 3.1.

## Practical Insights

- This is a poor source for broad HIIT body-composition claims because the significant combined-group body composition result was lower FFM.
- The exercise dose is very low and may be easy to translate, but outcome evidence is supplement-confounded.

## Limitations

- Diet not controlled
- Short duration
- Small sample
- Only women
- Field protocol limited control of training intensity

## Safety And Adherence

- No adverse events, injuries, or spirulina side effects were reported. Safety/context details reported: participants with medical conditions for physical activity were excluded, missing more than three practice sessions led to exclusion, participants were told to avoid alcohol, caffeine, smoking, medications, performance-enhancing capsules, and other supplements around treatment/testing, HR was monitored by an instructor using Polar, and all exercise-group participants completed the exercises.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35205063/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11020196) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8869481/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.