Effect of Spirulina Food Supplement on Blood Morphological and Biochemical Composition in Sportsmen

ACT Effect of Spirulina F
A MEDICA LITU
ood Supplement on Blood Morphological and Biochemical Composition in Sportsmen
ANICA. 2004. VOLUME 11. No. 1. P. 47–51
47
© Lietuvos mokslø akademija, 2004
© Lietuvos mokslø akademijos leidykla, 2004
Effect of Spirulina Food Supplement on Blood
Morphological and Biochemical Composition in
Sportsmen
Kazys Milaðius,
Objective: Highly active food supplements find an ever-growing application in
Marija Peèiukonienë,
sportsmen’s nutrition. Of highest biological value are natural concentrates of
Rûta Dadelienë
optimally combined substances produced by nature. One of the food supple-
ments of this kind is dietary Spirulina produced by the Tianshi firm (China). It
Vilnius Pedagogical University,
is a most rationally balanced food supplement of a high biological value; it
Vilnius, Lithuania
satisfies the needs of the whole body and improves its immune system.
The aim of the current work was to assess the effect of the multicomponent
natural food supplement Spirulina on the physical development, blood morpho-
logical and biochemical picture of sportsmen.
Materials and methods: Investigations carried out on endurance-training
sportsmen showed that a 14-d administration of Spirulina exerted a positive
effect on blood morphological composition indices and biochemical changes.
Erythrocyte increment was more significant for the sportsmen whose initial in-
dices were low. Throughout the experiment, blood haemoglobin level increased
on average by 1.42 g/l, white blood hematocrit showed a decreasing tendency.
Spirulina administration was accompanied by a leucocyte count upregulation
tendency and positive changes in leukocyte formula. Leucograms showed a mar-
ked leveling of the agranulocytes–granulocytes ratio.
Results and discussion: Analysis of the biochemical indices showed that
during the whole experimental period the mean values of the indices were
within the recommended limits. Under the effect of Spirulina intake, blood
creatinine-kinase levels tended to increase and creatinine levels showed a dec-
reasing tendency (on average from 93.99 to 90.45 mmol/l); also, triglyceride and
bilirubin levels tended to decrease, while those of urea and uric acid increased.
Most of the positive changes in blood morphological and biochemical indices
were still present two weeks after the Spirulina intake was interrupted.
Key words: sportsmen, blood picture, food supplements, Spirulina
INTRODUCTION
mune system and the functioning of the endocrine
glands. However, there is a shortage of information
Great physical loads and their intensity impose strict
on which products should be used as biologically
requirements on sportsmen’s nutrition. It must be
active food supplements and which functional sys-
well balanced, highly efficient and meet the bodily
tems of the body are influenced by their effect in
demands. Therefore more and more popular in
sportsmen. Earlier we have published a series of
sports practice become highly efficient products, best
papers on the use of various food supplements in
of them being natural, optimally balanced concen-
sportsmen’s nutrition (3–5).
trates of biologically active substances (1, 2). They
Over the recent years, many new dietary supple-
act as adaptogens by improving bodily response to
ments have appeared on the market and are used
unfavorable external stimuli (both physical and emo-
by sportsmen. Products of the Chinese firm Tianshi
tional), raising physical capacity, stimulating the im-
are gaining popularity in their nutrition. Its pro-
ducts, such as Spirulina, Cordiceps, are being pro-
Corespondence to: Prof. Kazys Milaðius, Studentø 39,
duced following the millenium-long traditions of Chi-
LT-2034 Vilnius, Lithuania. E-mail: kazys.milasius@vpu.lt
nese medicine. They may be used in higher doses

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48
Kazys Milaðius, Marija Peèiukonienë, Rûta Dadelienë
than homeopathic and lower than pharmacological
subjects’ height, body mass, muscle and fat mass
preparations (6).
and index, lung vital volume (14, 15).
Spirulina is a very popular dietary supplement.
Blood samples were taken from the vein. The
It is an alga containing a valuable combination of
general blood picture was analyzed with the aid of
substances, including those practically absent in com-
a Micros-60 hematological analyzer (France). We
mon food. Spirulina contains about 14% of the pro-
used it to measure red blood corpuscles (RBC), hae-
tein complex phycocianin. Research shows it to sti-
moglobin (HB), haematocrit (HCT), mean red cor-
mulate the immune system, build both red and white
puscle volume (MCV), erythrocyte sedimentation
blood cells and assist detoxification (7). Spirulina is
rate (ESR), red corpuscle distribution area (RDA),
a best balanced highly efficient dietary supplement,
white blood corpuscles (WBC) count, lymphocyte
which satisfies the demands of all systems of the
(LYM), monocyte (MON), granulocyte (GRA) count
organism and, what is most important, improves the
and percentage. A Reflatron-IV express-analyzer was
condition of its immune system and is a source of
employed to measure blood biochemical indices, such
easily available iron (8–10). The literature data show
as creatinekinase (CK), creatinine (Crea), choleste-
that Spirulina enhances the haemopoietic system and
rol (Chol), triglycerides (Tg), bilirubin (Bil), urea
increases resistance to hypoxia (11, 12). R. Henrik-
(Urea) and uric acid (Ua) (16).
son who has been studying Spirulina platensis for 20
The obtained data were processed by methods
years, in his publications calls it superfood, an es-
of mathematical statistics. Parametrical statistics hy-
pecially efficient concentrate of a perfect composi-
potheses were verified according to Student’s crite-
tion. The World Health Organization prognosticates
rion. The arithmetical mean x–, error Sx–, standard
that in the 21st century Spirulina will become one
deviation were calculated. To evaluate differences
of the most important curative and prophylactic com-
among the mean indices of different stages of the
ponents of nutrition and recommends it also in
study, Student’s t criterion was applied to related
children’s nutrition (13). However, despite of a
sets. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to eva-
rather high popularity of this product, there is a
luate the correspondence of the distribution of in-
lack of more or less comprehensive studies to ana-
dices to the standard level.
lyze the effect of Tianshi dietary supplements on
the sportsmen’s adaptation to physical loads.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The aim of the present work was to assess the
effect of the multicomponent natural food supple-
The dynamics of physical development indices re-
ment Spirulina on the sportsmen’s physical develop-
flects the sum total of the structural and of some
ment and blood composition.
functional properties of the human body and great-
ly depend not only on inheritance, but also on the
METHODS
physical activity, the quality and habits of nutrition
of an individual. In the test subjects, the indices of
The study cohort comprised 12 students of physical
physical development (height, body mass) changed
culture speciality of Vilnius Pedagogical University,
but little over the experimental period (Table 1).
aged 20–22 years, who combined studies with endu-
Body mass over this period decreased on average
rance training. After the first investigation, when
from 76.0 ± 2.4 to 75.0 ± 2.2 kg. Lung capacity
the physical development, blood morphological and
showed an insignificant increase (from the average
biochemical composition were determined, the stu-
of 5.5 l to 5.6 ± 0.22 l, but the increase was sta-
dy subjects were using tablets of Spirulina, a dietary
tistically not reliable). The most important informa-
product of the Tianshi firm, based on dry powder
tion on the physical development of the sportsmen
of the alga Spirulina platensis, fermented Cordiceps
is derived from the muscle and fat mass ratio. With
sinensis mycelium and beta-carotine. One tablet con-
a decreasing body mass, over the study period also
tained 250 mg of Spirulina. Three tablets were con-
fat mass decreased from 9.0 ± 0.8 kg at the begin-
sumed three times a day between the meals with
ning of the experiment to 8.89 ± 0.70 kg at its end,
ample water for 14 days by each participant of the
and after 2 weeks it decreased to 8.55 ± 0.70 kg.
study. Their nutritive regime was determined by the
The role of blood morphological composition in
methods of questioning and questionnaires. Exami-
the sportsmen’s body is very significant. The blood
nations were performed before Spirulina supplemen-
supports the vitality of the bodily systems and or-
tation, immediately following the supplementation,
gans by performing various functions, supplying or-
and two weeks after the supplementation had been
gans with oxygen and nutritive substances, elimina-
interrupted.
ting the products of metabolism, protecting the bo-
Physical development was determined with the
dy against infections, regulating the hormone level,
aid of standard methods by measuring the study
etc.

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Effect of Spirulina Food Supplement on Blood Morphological and Biochemical Composition in Sportsmen
49
days of Spirulina administration
Table 1. Dynamics of the sportsmen’s physical development indices over the
showed no changes and after 2
experimental period
weeks of Spirulina intake de-

Height Body mass Lung vital
Fat
Muscles
Muscle and
Indices
creased. The RDA index at the
cm
kg
volume l
kg
kg
fat mass index
beginning of the study approa-
Before the use
ched the lower limit of the re-
–
X
182.25
75.99
5.53
9.03
40.58
4.89
commended level, but following
Sx–
2.29
2.37
0.19
0.77
1.26
0.49
Spirulina administration it show-
S
7.93
8.19
0.65
2.68
4.37
1.68
ed a statistically reliable increa-
After a 2-week use
–
se. The literature data (Zales-
X
182.25
75.57
5.53
8.89
40.60
4.95
Sx–
2.29
2.17
0.21
0.74
1.15
0.51
kis, 2002) indicate that such shift
S
7.93
7.52
0.73
2.57
3.97
1.77
should be regarded as a good
2 weeks after the use
bodily response in assimilating
–
X
182.25
75.03
5.61
8.55
40.90
5.21
iron.
Sx–
2.29
2.24
0.22
0.70
1.17
0.56
Similar changes were reveal-
S
7.93
7.75
0.75
2.41
4.06
1.93
ed also in the haemoglobin le-
t
vel of the sportsmen’s blood.
I–II
0
0.132
–0.030
0.124
–0.015
–0.081
During the first stage of the stu-
I–III
0
0.297
–0.291
0.456
–0.189
–0.441
II–III
0
0.174
–0.249
0.336
–0.183
–0.355
dy this index increased not very
significantly (by 0.84 g/l), and
the increase was more significant
At the beginning of the study, blood structural
(by 1.42 g/l) in the second stage.
indices of the involved sportsmen were within the
Another important index of blood composition,
normal levels. After two weeks of Spirulina admi-
haematocrit, throughout the study period kept dec-
nistration these indices showed a positive effect of
reasing, but showed no statistically reliable changes.
this dietary product on the haemopoietic system
A higher erythrocyte count and a higher haemoglo-
(Table 2). Erythrocyte count in the sportsmen’s blood
bin level at a lower mean volume and a higher mean
over the study period showed no significant chan-
haemoglobin content in them and a decreased hae-
ges; nevertheless, immediately following Spirulina ad-
matocrit percentage are the desirable phenomena
ministration it showed an increasing tendency (on
for the sportsmen whose activities require especially
average 0.07 × 1012/l). Analysis of RBC counts in
high endurance.
the first and second stages of the experiment re-
White blood corpuscles (WBC) perform various
vealed a more significant increase of this index in
protective functions, participate in cellular and hu-
the sportsmen whose initial RBC levels had been
moral immunity. In the leucograms of the sports-
low. The average erythrocyte volume following 14
men – participants of our study, after 2 weeks of
Spirulina administration the leu-
cocyte class percentage was
Table 2. Dynamics of the sportsmen’s general blood picture over the experi-
within the recommended norma-
mental period
tive levels. In the third stage (2
weeks following the interruption

RBC
HGB
HCT
MCV
RDA
ESR
Indices
1012/l
g/l
%
µ3
%
mm/a
of Spirulina intake), an increas-
ing tendency of leukocyte count
Before the use
–
and positive shifts in the leuko-
X
4.94
146.33
44.00
88.00
11.42
5.17
cyte formula were observed. In
Sx–
0.13
3.09
0.96
0.78
0.15
2.11
S
0.46
10.71
3.34
2.70
0.50
7.32
the leucogram, the per cent ra-
After a 2–week use
tio of agranulocytes (lymphocy-
–
X
5.00
147.17
43.91
88.00
11.22
3.58
tes and monocytes) and granu-
Sx–
0.10
1.99
0.66
0.69
0.11
0.58
locytes (neutrophils, basophils,
S
0.35
6.90
2.28
2.37
0.40
2.02
eosinophils) was smoothened
2 weeks after the use
–
(Table 3).
X
4.98
147.75
42.83
86.08
11.68
4.58
Throughout the whole period
Sx–
0.07
1.53
0.43
0.68
0.13
1.08
of study the mean values of blo-
S
0.24
5.29
1.50
2.35
0.46
3.73
t
od biochemical indices were
I–II
–0.37
–0.23
0.08
0.00
1.08
0.72
within the recommended limits
I–III
–0.27
–0.41
1.11
1.86
–1.36
0.25
(Table 4). The mean creatineki-
II–III
0.17
–0.23
1.37
1.99
–2.67
–0.82
nase indices were nearly the sa-

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50
Kazys Milaðius, Marija Peèiukonienë, Rûta Dadelienë
Blood cholesterol and triglyceride le-
Table 3. Dynamics of the sportsmen’s leukocyte count and formula
vels for all study participants were below
over the experimental period
the lower recommended level. Urea and
WBC #LYM
LYM #MON MON
#GRA GRA
Indices
uric acid levels in their blood over the
10 9/l
10 9/l
%
10 9/l
%
10 9/l
%
study period showed no statistically signi-
Before the use
ficant changes, however, immediately fol-
–
X
5.33
1.70
34.08
0.25
6.04
3.38
59.88
lowing Spirulina intake and two weeks la-
Sx–
0.31
0.08
2.15
0.03
0.70
0.32
2.52
ter exhibited a pronounced increasing ten-
S
1.07
0.26
7.46
0.10
2.43
1.10
8.71
dency, implying the intensifying effect of
After a 2–week use
–
this drug on protein metabolism in the
X
5.18
1.54
33.28
0.18
4.68
3.45
62.04
body.
Sx–
0.48
0.08
2.73
0.02
0.34
0.45
2.84
S
1.67
0.27
9.47
0.07
1.17
1.56
9.85
The questionnaire interrogatory rese-
2 weeks after the use
arch proved that the sportsmen’s nutri-
–
X
5.49
1.62
30.48
0.28
5.92
3.59
63.61
tion ratio was rational, sportsmen did not
Sx–
0.21
0.09
1.56
0.02
0.40
0.18
1.67
use any other food supplements or medi-
S
0.73
0.31
5.41
0.08
1.37
0.64
5.79
cal preparations during the study period.
t
The usage of Spirulina had no negative
I–II
0.28
1.46
0.23
1.88
1.76
–0.12
–0.57
impact on the sportsmen’s body. After fi-
I–III
–0.42
0.71
1.35
–0.89
0.15
–0.57
–1.23
ve days of Spirulina usage, the sportsmen
II–III
–0.60
–0.64
0.89
–3.15
–2.39
–0.29
–0.47
felt more bouncing, their sleeping quality
improved, fatigue after physical load per-
formance was less, recreational processes
Table 4. Dynamics of the sportsmen’s blood biochemical indices
became quicker, and their endurance
over the experimental period
when performing strength exercises im-
proved.
Ck
Crea
Chol
Tg
Bil
Urea
Ua
Indices
u/l
mmol/l mmol/l mmol/l mmol/l mmol/l mmol/l
CONCLUSIONS
Before the use
–
X
92.35
93.99
3.81
2.52
18.14
5.60
307.00
1. During the two weeks of Spirulina in-
Sx–
15.13
2.84
0.23
1.46
2.03
0.46
9.83
S
52.42
9.83
0.81
5.05
7.04
1.60
34.05
take, the physical development of the
After a 2–week use
sportsmen showed no statistically signifi-
–
X
97.13
90.45
3.72
0.94
16.40
6.20
321.00
cant changes.
Sx–
18.25
4.05
0.22
0.08
2.83
0.33
19.61
2. Immediately following the 14-d pe-
S
63.22
14.03
0.75
0.27
9.81
1.15
67.92
riod of Spirulina administration, in the
2 weeks after the use
–
sportsmen’s blood the erythrocyte count
X
96.83
94.47
3.75
1.14
18.13
6.75
340.42
and haemoglobin concentration had a ten-
Sx–
16.36
2.71
0.21
0.14
1.87
0.35
17.24
dency to an increase accompanied by a
S
56.68
9.40
0.72
0.48
6.49
1.23
59.72
t
decrease of the mean erythrocyte volume
I–II
–0.20
0.72
0.27
1.13
0.50
–1.05
–0.64
and unchanged blood haematocrit. The
I–III
–0.20
–0.12
0.18
1.72
0.00
–1.97
–1.68
leucocyte count also showed an increasing
II–III
0.01
–0.82
–0.09
–1.27
–0.51
–1.13
–0.74
tendency, and the per cent ratio of agra-
nulocytes and granulocytes was levelling.
3. Spirulina administration caused no
me, however, the difference between their maximal
violation of the recommended standard levels of
and minimal parameters was very high. Two per-
blood biochemical indices. The levels of cholesterol,
sons stood out for their creatinekinase levels, which
triglycerides, bilirubin in the blood showed a de-
were above norm. It is worth noting than these
creasing and of urea and uric acid an increasing
sportsmen before study had been taking several die-
tendency.
tary supplements. In 7 persons of 12, for whom
4. Most of the positively changed morphological
blood creatinekinase in the first trial reached the
and biochemical indices of the sportsmen’s blood
average level (from 24.4 to 194 u/l), immediately
composition retained similar levels for another two
following Spirulina intake it increased from 39.8 to
weeks following the withdrawal of Spirulina from
244 u/l. Blood creatinine level throughout the study
their diet.
period decreased on average from 93.99 ± 2.84 to
90.45 ± 4.05 mmol/l, and this difference can be
Received 28 November 2003
regarded as a positive phenomenon.
Accepted 28 November 2003

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Effect of Spirulina Food Supplement on Blood Morphological and Biochemical Composition in Sportsmen
51
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Redaktorës: A. Juðkaitë, A. Gapsevièienë
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SL 1639. 6,0 leid. apsk. l. Tiraþas 105 egz.
Uþsakymas Nr. 1221
Lietuvos mokslø akademijos leidykla, Gedimino pr. 3, LT-01103 Vilnius
Spausdino „Biznio maðinø kompanijos“ spaustuvë, Gedimino pr. 60, LT-01110 Vilnius
Kaina sutartinë

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