The Advantageous Application of Spirulina in Mitigating Lipid Profile and Glycemic Alterations induced by a High Calorie Diet in Wistar Rat

Amel Kouidri; Amel Meribai; Latifa Khattabi; Djamila Defairi; Samir Flici; Salah Akkal

doi:10.35516/jjps.v19i1.3449

Authors

Amel Kouidri Laboratoire de recherche de Sciences, technologies alimentaires et développement durable, Université Saad Dahlab, Blida 1, 09000, Blida, Algérie.
Amel Meribai Laboratoire de Recherche de Technologie alimentaire et Nutrition humaine, Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Agronomie, 16200, Alger, Algérie.
Latifa Khattabi Biotechnology Reaserch Center CRBT Constantine Algeria
Djamila Defairi Laboratoire de recherche de Sciences, technologies alimentaires et développement durable, Université Saad Dahlab, Blida 1, 09000, Blida, Algérie
Samir Flici Faculté de Technologie, Université Yahia Farés de Médéa, 26000, Médéa, Algérie.
Salah Akkal Valorization of Natural Resources, Bioactive Molecules and Biological Analysis Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Mentouri Constantine 1, Constantine 25000, Ageria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/jjps.v19i1.3449

Keywords:

Spirulina, diet, Wistar rat, weight gain, metabolic dysfunction

Abstract

An unbalanced diet inevitably leads to weight and metabolic dysfunction. Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) can be a useful supplement to remedy this situation. This work aims to study the effect of spirulina at 2% in the diet of unbalanced Wistar rat on weight and some biochemical parameters related to metabolism. The Wistar rats were being altered by a prolonged introduction of a high calorie diet. They receive the following experimental diets: a standard diet (S), a high calorie diet (H) and a diet enriched with Spirulina (SP). Rats had ad libitum access to their daily ration of 15 grams, which was provided each morning. The weight of the rats and serological parameters (glycemia, cholesterol and triglycerides) were measured and compared according to the three diets administered. The conducted measurements showed that the weight of the rats increased significantly (20.95 g) under H diet in comparison to those with diet S. The SP diet allowed a return to normal weight change (19.25 g) after 67 days. Glycemia, total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL- C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), which increased very significantly in diet H (0.53 g/L, 0.25 g/L, 0.2 g/L respectively), have decreased in SP diet to be on the same line as the values recorded in diet S (0.35 g/L, 0.62 g/L, 0.46 g/L respectively). However, HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) rate is less influenced by diet change. All the results obtained are in favor of a beneficial effect of Spirulina on metabolic sphere of Wistar rats, hence the interest of its incorporation in the human diet.

References

Boudène C., Collas E. and Jenkins C. Recherche et dosage de divers toxiques minéraux dans les algues spirulines de différentes origines, et évaluation de la toxicité à long terme chez le rat d’un lot d’algues spirulines de provenance Mexicaine. Ann. Nutr. Aliment. 1975; 29:577–588.

Zhou Z. G., Liu Z. L. and Liu X. X. Study on the isolation, purification and anti-oxidation properties of polysaccharides from Spirulina maxima. Acta Bot. Sin. 1997; 39:77–81.

Scheldeman P., Baurain D., Bouhy R., Scott M., Mühling M., Whitton B. A., Belay A. and Wilmotte A. Arthrospira (‘Spirulina’) strains from four continents are resolved into only two clusters, based on amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis of the internally transcribed spacer. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 1999; 172:213–222. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6968.1999.tb13471.x

Campanella L., Crescentini G. and Avino P. Chemical composition and nutritional evaluation of some natural and commercial food products based on Spirulina. Analusis. 1999; 27:533–540. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/analusis:1999130

Vicat J. P., Doumnang Mbaigane J. C. and Bellion Y. Teneurs en éléments majeurs et traces de spirulines (Arthrospira platensis) originaires de France, du Tchad, du Togo, du Niger, du Mali, du Burkina-Faso et de République centrafricaine. C. R. Biol. 2014; 337:44–52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crvi.2013.11.004

Youssef I. M. I., Saleh E. S. E., Tawfeek S. S., Abdel-Fadeel A. A. A., Abdel-Razik A. R. H. and Abdel-Daim A. S. A. Effect of Spirulina platensis on growth, hematological, biochemical, and immunological parameters of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 2023; 55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-023-03690-5

Manoj G., Venkataraman L. V. and Srinivas L. Antioxidant properties of Spirulina (Spirulina platensis). In: Proceedings of the Spirulina: National Symposium; MCRC: Tharamani, Madras, India. 1992; pp 154–158.

Belay A. The potential application of Spirulina (Arthrospira) as a nutritional and therapeutic supplement in health. J. Am. Nutraceutical Assoc. 2002; 5:27–48.

Vo T.-S., Ngo D.-H. and Kim S.-K. Nutritional and pharmaceutical properties of microalgal Spirulina. In: Handbook of Marine Microalgae: Biotechnology Advances. 2015; pp 299–308. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-800776-1.00019-4

AlThobaiti A. Protective effect of Spirulina against monosodium glutamate-induced hepatic dysfunction: A biochemical, molecular, and histopathological study. J. King Saud Univ. Sci. 2023; 35:102464. DOI: 10.1016/j.jksus.2022.102464. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus.2022.102464

Sadeghi T., Marvizadeh M. M., Ebrahimi F., Mafi S., Foughani O. and Nafchi A. M. Assessment of nutritional and antioxidant activity of sport drink enriched with Spirulina platensis. J. Chem. Health Risks. 2023; 13:485–496.

Cho J. A., Baek S. Y., Cheong S. H. and Kim M. R. Spirulina enhances bone modeling in growing male rats by regulating growth-related hormones. Nutrients. 2020; 12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12041187

Peiretti P. G. and Meineri G. Effects of diets with increasing levels of Spirulina platensis on the carcass characteristics, meat quality and fatty acid composition of growing rabbits. Livest. Sci. 2011; 140:218–224. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2011.03.031

Spirulina—An edible cyanobacterium with potential therapeutic health benefits and toxicological consequences. J. Am. Nutr. Assoc. 42(6).

Wang Y.-Y., Xu B.-L., Dong C.-M. and Sun Y.-Y. The nutritional value of Spirulina and utilization research. Life Res. 2023; 6:15. DOI: 10.53388/lr20230015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53388/LR20230015

Arar E. B., Alsaggar M. H. and Alkhatatbeh M. J. Obesity is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and increased prevalence of insulin resistance among apparently healthy young adults. Jordan J. Pharm. Sci. 2025; 18:777–792. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35516/jjps.v18i3.2498

Khaled K., Messaoudi M., Hacene L., Djilani G. A., Azedinne C., Atanassova M., Sawicka B., Atoki A. V. and Zahnit W. Antihyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective activity of two different Matricaria pubescens methanolic extracts in rats. Jordan J. Pharm. Sci. 2025; 18:943–958. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35516/jjps.v18i4.3033

Saidi H., Bounihi A., Bouazza A., Hichami A., Koceir E. H. A. and Khan N. A. Spirulina reduces diet-induced obesity through downregulation of lipogenic genes expression in Psammomys obesus. Arch. Physiol. Biochem. 2022; 128:1001–1009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13813455.2020.1743724

Council of the European Communities. Directive 91/676/EEC. 1991.

Tucker M. J. Diseases of the Wistar Rat. Taylor & Francis eBooks.

Ibukun O., Uhunmwangho E. S., Ademola I. O., Olokor N. E. and Akinnaso O. L. Methanol leaves extract of Zingiber officinale (Roscoe) exhibited anti-obesity effect in Wistar rats fed with a high-fat diet. Jordan J. Pharm. Sci. 2023; 16:798–814. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35516/jjps.v16i4.1128

Klinger M. M., MacCarter G. D. and Boozer C. N. Body weight and composition in the Sprague Dawley rat: Comparison of three outbred sources. Lab. Anim. Sci. 1996; 46:67–70.

Clive P. The Welfare of Animals: The Silent Majority. Springer Science & Business Media; 2008; Vol. 8.

Tietz N. W. Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests. 1995; pp 1096–1096.

Kolodgie F. D., Burke A. P., Nakazawa G., Cheng Q., Xu X. and Virmani R. Free cholesterol in atherosclerotic plaques: Where does it come from? Curr. Opin. Lipidol. 2007; 18:500–507. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MOL.0b013e3282efa35b

López-Varela S., Sánchez-Muniz F. J. and Cuesta C. Decreased food efficiency ratio, growth retardation and changes in liver fatty acid composition in rats consuming thermally oxidized and polymerized sunflower oil used for frying. Food Chem. Toxicol. 1995; 33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0278-6915(94)00133-9

Friedewald W. T., Levy R. I. and Fredrickson D. S. Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma, without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge. Clin. Chem. 1972; 18:499–502. DOI: 10.1093/clinchem/18.6.499. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/clinchem/18.6.499

Mendoza J. A., Drewnowski A. and Christakis D. A. Dietary energy density is associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome in U.S. adults. Diabetes Care. 2007; 30:974–979. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2337/dc06-2188

Perrin D. Caractérisation de la balance énergétique et de son contrôle monoaminergique central et périphérique chez un modèle de rat ne développant pas d’obésité, le rat Lou/C. Université Claude Bernard–Lyon I; 2003.

World Health Organization. Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment. WHO; 2005.

Kumar V., Khanna A. K., Khan M. M., Singh R., Singh S., Chander R., Mahdi F., Saxena J. K., Saxena S. and Singh V. K. Hypoglycemic, lipid lowering and antioxidant activities in root extract of Anthocephalus indicus in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Indian J. Clin. Biochem. 2009; 24:65–69. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-009-0011-4

Soofi M. A. and Youssef M. A. Prediction of 10-year risk of hard coronary events among Saudi adults based on prevalence of heart disease risk factors. J. Saudi Heart Assoc. 2015; 27:152–159. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsha.2015.03.003

Martin A. Nutritional recommendations for the French population: The “apports nutritionnels conseillés” (ANCs). Sci. Aliments. 2001; 21:119–128. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/rnd:2001100

Velez-Carrasco W., Merkel M., Twiss C. O. and Smith J. D. Dietary methionine effects on plasma homocysteine and HDL metabolism in mice. J. Nutr. Biochem. 2008; 19:362–370. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2007.05.005

Barzilai N. and Gabriely I. The role of fat depletion in the biological benefits of caloric restriction. J. Nutr. 2001; 131. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/131.3.903S

Ford E. S. and Liu S. Glycemic index and serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration among US adults. Arch. Intern. Med. 2001; 161:572–576. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.161.4.572

Kouidri A., Meribai A. and Flici S. The rye bran impact on the serological parameters of Wistar rats. Int. J. 2014.

Girardet J. P., Luc G., Rieu D., Bruckert E., Darmaun D. and Farnier M. Prise en charge des hypercholestérolémies de l’enfant: recommandations du Comité de nutrition de la Société française de pédiatrie et de la Nouvelle société française d’athérosclérose. Arch. Pediatr. 2011; 18:217–229. DOI: 10.1016/j.arcped.2010.10.017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arcped.2010.10.017

Kouidri A., Kalem K., Larbaoui D. and Boudouma D. Effect of wheat and barley bran on weight and certain blood parameters in Wistar rats. Arab Gulf J. Sci. Res. 2011; 29:20–29. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51758/AGJSR-1/2-2011-0003

Gheda S. F., Abo-Shady A. M., Abdel-Karim O. H. and Ismail G. A. Antioxidant and antihyperglycemic activity of Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina platensis) methanolic extract: In vitro and in vivo study. Egypt. J. Bot. 2021; 61:71–93.

Gumbo and Nesamvuni A. Review: Spirulina a source of bioactive compounds and nutrition. J. Chem. Pharm. Sci. 2017; 10:1317–1325.

Anvar A. A. and Nowruzi B. Bioactive properties of Spirulina: A review. Microb. Bioact. 2021; 4:134–142. DOI: 10.25163/microbbioacts.412117b0719110521. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25163/microbbioacts.412117B0719110521

Bortolini D. G., Maciel G. M., Fernandes I. de A. A., Pedro A. C., Rubio F. T. V., Branco I. G. and Haminiuk C. W. I. Functional properties of bioactive compounds from Spirulina spp. Food Chem. Mol. Sci. 2022; 5:100–134. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fochms.2022.100134

El-Baz F. K., Aly H. F., El-Sayed A. B. and Mohamed A. A. Role of Spirulina platensis in the control of glycemia in DM2 rats. Int. J. Sci. Eng. Res. 2013; 4:1731–1740.

Melakhessou M. A., Marref S. E., Benkiki N., Marref C., Becheker I. and Khattabi L. In vitro, acute and subchronic evaluation of the antidiabetic activity of Atractylis flava Desf n-butanol extract in alloxan-diabetic rats. Future J. Pharm. Sci. 2021; 7. DOI: 10.1186/s43094-021-00358-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-021-00358-5

Khattabi L., Boudiar T., Bouhenna M. M., Chettoum A., Chebrouk F., Chader H., Lozano-Sánchez J., Segura-Carretero A., Nieto G. and Akkal S. RP-HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS qualitative profiling, antioxidant, anti-enzymatic, anti-inflammatory and non-cytotoxic properties of Ephedra alata Monjauzeana. Foods. 2022; 11. DOI: 10.3390/foods11020145. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11020145

Belguidoum M., Harchaoui L., Khattabi L., Touahria T., Abid A., Zahnit W., Bensaci C., Boussebaa W., Menaa S., Laichi Y. et al. Teucrium pseudochamaepitys L.: Chemical composition, acute toxicity, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. Chem. Pap. 2024; 78:1989–2003. DOI: 10.1007/s11696-023-03221-4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11696-023-03221-4

Chafaa N., Mosbah C., Khattabi L., Malaoui K., Zahnit W., Smaali M. E. A., Houri F., Medfouni Y., Al-Anazi K. M. and Ali A. Algerian prickly pear seed by-products: Fatty acids composition, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory activities towards tyrosinase, urease, α-amylase, and cholinesterase, along with the ability to protect from thermal protein denaturation. Pharmaceuticals. 2024; 17:1145. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17091145

Hamamouche K., Elhadj Z., Khattabi L., Zahnit W., Djemoui B., Attia S. M., Ahmad S. F., Atanassova M. and Messaoudi M. Impact of ultrasound- and microwave-assisted extraction on bioactive compounds and biological activities of Jania rubens and Sargassum muticum. 2024; 1–20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/md22120530

Metekia W. A., Ulusoy B. H. and Habte-Tsion H. M. Spirulina phenolic compounds: Natural food additives with antimicrobial properties. Int. Food Res. J. 2021; 28:1109–1118. DOI: 10.47836/ifrj.28.6.02. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/ifrj.28.6.02

Khattabi L., Khaldi T., Bahri L., Mokhtari M. B., Bouhenna M. M., Temime A., Boural H., Bouhedjar K., Hemida H., Atoki A. V. et al. Insights about the deleterious impact of a carbamate pesticide on some metabolic immune and antioxidant functions and a focus on the protective ability of a Saharan shrub and its anti-edematous property. Open Chem. 2024; 22. DOI: 10.1515/chem-2024-0022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/chem-2024-0022

DiNicolantonio J. J., Bhat A. G. and O’Keefe J. Effects of spirulina on weight loss and blood lipids: A review. Open Heart. 2020; 7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/openhrt-2018-001003

Lee J., Park A., Kim M. J., Lim H. J., Rha Y. A. and Kang H. G. Spirulina extract enhanced a protective effect in type 1 diabetes by anti-apoptosis and anti-ROS production. Nutrients. 2017; 9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9121363

Rabeh N., El-Banna N., El-Kady K. and Ghonim N. Effect of Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) on blood glucose level and renal impairment in diabetic rats. Egypt. J. Nutr. Heal. 2021; 16:53–69. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/ejnh.2021.239556

Gumbo and Nesamvuni A. Review: Spirulina a source of bioactive compounds and nutrition. J. Chem. Pharm. Sci. 2017; 10:1317–1325