Introduction

Antiobesity foods and food ingredients are effective in reducing the accumulation of fat in the body and can prevent diseases associated with lifestyle. One of them is Spirulina platensis (Spirulina), a blue-green cyanobacterium.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to investigate whether Spirulina has the improver effects on serum insulin and adiponectin levels in rats fed with hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) and/or cholesterol.

Methods

Sixty-four male mature rats were separated into 8 equal groups. The control group was fed with a standard semipurified diet. Supplementations of other groups fed with same semipurified diet were as follows: Trial 1, 43% HVO; Trial 2, 10% cholesterol; Trial 3, 43% HVO + 10% cholesterol; Trial 4, 3% Spirulina; Trial 5, 43% HVO + 3% Spirulina; Trial 6, 10% cholesterol + 3% Spirulina; and Trial 7, 43% HVO + 10% cholesterol + 3% Spirulina. Blood was taken from all rats on the 30th and 60th days.

Results

On the 60th day, serum insulin was significantly lower in cholesterol, Spirulina, cholesterol + Spirulina and oil + cholesterol + Spirulina groups than in oil and oil + Spirulina groups. On the 60th day, serum adiponectin was significantly lower in cholesterol, Spirulina and cholesterol + Spirulina groups than in control and oil + cholesterol groups.

Conclusion

The feeding with HVO and/or cholesterol were ineffective on serum insulin. Spirulina supplementation was ineffective on the feeding with HVO or cholesterol for serum insulin. The feeding with cholesterol and/or Spirulina significantly lowered the serum adiponectin levels. Serum adiponectin did not change in all groups added HVO.