In this study we compared the metabolic response to acute exercise among rats fed on a standard diet or on a spirulina diet. Young Wistar rats were divided into two groups according to diet: control (C) (standard diet) and spirulina (S) (spirulina diet). At the end of experimental period (5 weeks) rats were submitted to an acute exercise session of swimming (20 minutes, supporting a load corresponding to 5% of body weight) to determine blood lactate and serum glucose, insulin, proteins, albumin and fatty free acids (FFA). Gastrocnemius and liver samples were used to determine glycogen and lipids tenors. Both C and S groups showed increase in serum glucose and FFA, a drop in serum insulin and a decrease of muscle and liver glycogen contents after acute exercise. Blood lactate during exercise was higher in S than C rats. It was concluded that the response pattern to acute exercise was similar for C and S rats. However, diet protein seemed to influence aspects of glucose metabolism.
Spirulina; Metabolism; Exercise; Rats; Body growth
