Background and Aim
Dysregulation of adipocyte function occurs in obesity. Meteorin-like protein (metrnl) is a newly discovered modulator of inflammation, metabolism, and differentiation of human adipocytes. The dietary supplement Chlorella Vulgaris (CV) reduces hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and oxidative stress in clinical trials. We explored the impact of 12 weeks of interval resistance training (IRT) and supplementation with CV on plasma levels of metrnl and oxidative stress in males with obesity.
Methods
Forty-four obese men (BMI: 32.0 ± 1.5 kg/m2, weight: 101.1 ± 2.2 kg, age: 23-35 years) were randomized into four groups (n = 11/group): Control (CON), CV supplement (CV), IRT, and CV + IRT (CVIRT). The IRT was performed for 12 weeks (three sessions per week). The treatment consisted of a daily intake of CV (1800 mg capsule) or placebo capsules. Blood samples were collected 48 hours before and after the interventions to analyze biomedical measurements.
Results
The IRT and CVIRT had elevations in plasma metrnl, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels (all p<0.0001), and reductions in malondialdehyde (MDA) (p<0.0001). Supplementation with CV significantly reduced MDA (p<0.001) and increased TAC (p<0.0001) but failed to alter SOD or metrnl (p>0.05).
Conclusion
Although IRT and its combination with CV hold promise for improving metrnl levels and oxidative status in obesity, combining IRT and CV do not yield greater benefits than IRT alone. While standalone CV supplementation could favorably impact certain markers of oxidative stress, the effectiveness of CV supplementation appears to have a relatively limited effect across assessed biomarkers and requires further investigation.