Spirulina For Increased Energy?
A study was recently published in a respected journal called Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise regarding the ergogenic and antioxidant effects of spirulina. No journal is the end-all be-all but I was surprised to see such a positive outcome about spirulina published in that journal. In any given month I review 20-25 different journals and Med Sci Sports Exerc is always one of the 20.
Here’s a link to Wikipedia on what spirulina is.
Wikipedia Link
Here’s a link to Quackwatch. You can always count on Dr. Barrett to provide the stiff, broomhandle up the anus side of things. But I wouldn’t provide it if I didn’t think it was worth a read so here you go.
Quack Watch Article
Spirulina or Arthrospira is a blue-green alga that became famous after it was successfully used by NASA as a dietary supplement for astronauts on space missions. Multiple studies investigating the efficacy and the potential clinical applications of Spirulina in treating several diseases have been performed and a few randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews as well.
Click Here For a Complete Spirulina Research Review PDF
The Med Sci Sports Exerc research summary was as follows …
Spirulina is a popular nutritional supplement that is accompanied by claims for antioxidant and performance-enhancing effects.
RESULTS: Time to fatigue after the 2-h run was significantly longer after spirulina supplementation.
CONCLUSIONS: Spirulina supplementation induced a significant increase in exercise performance, fat oxidation, and GSH concentration and attenuated the exercise-induced increase in lipid peroxidation.
(Source: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010 Jan;42(1):142-51. Ergogenic and antioxidant effects of spirulina supplementation in humans. Kalafati M, Jamurtas AZ, Nikolaidis MG, Paschalis V, Theodorou AA, Sakellariou GK, Koutedakis Y, Kouretas D.)
David Says: Will spirulina help all my cardio kings and queens? Frankly? I doubt it — at least not enough for anyone to notice it. But this study, although very small (9 total people in it), probably can’t be discarded any more than any other study that indicates no results with spirulina. It all has to be taken into the context of “the totality of the evidence.”