Reduction of Muscle Damage Indices by Consuming Chlorella vulgaris Along With High-Intensity Interval Training in Men With Overweight: A Controlled Clinical Trial

Background and Aims

Physical activity and nutrition play important roles in obesity and overweight treatment. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effect of HIIT exercise training and Chlorella vulgaris (CV) supplementation on muscle damage indicators.

Methods

Forty adults (22.8 ± 2.1 years, BMI 27.8 ± 1.3 kg/m²) were randomly divided into four equal groups: placebo without exercise (PLA-SED, n = 10), CV supplemented without exercise (CV-SED, n = 10), placebo with exercise training (PLA-HIIT, n = 10) and CV supplemented with exercise training (CV-HIIT, n = 10). Blood sampling was done in two stages: the first day (before the supplement and before the sports test) and 24 h after the last training session. They received the CV supplementation (300 mg) four times a day for 12 weeks, and the placebo group took the same dextrose tablets.

Results

At the end of the study, the level of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the high-intensity interval group showed a significant increase compared to the CV-SED and CV-HIIT groups (p < 0.01). Also, the serum levels of CK and LDH showed a significant increase in the post-protocol state compared to the pre-exercise group in the HIIT group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

CV together with high-intensity interval training can have a modulating effect on the release of muscle-damaging factors such as CK and LDH.