Effect of Spirulina Maxima and Exercise on General Fitness and Blood Lipids in Older Adults

Supplementation with Spirulina maxima (4.5 g/d) in capsules during 12 weeks.

2 weeks washout period to each study subject to avoid any possible carryover effect.

Supplementation with placebo (4.5 g/d) in capsules during 12 weeks.

All participants will have a personal isoenergetic diet according to their height, weight, body composition and daily physical activity during 26 weeks

Participants in the systematic physical exercise program groups will exercise for five days a week. The physical activity program will consist of Monday to Friday chair exercises performed during 24 weeks. The approximate exercise duration will be 40 to 50 min. Each exercise session has an initial or warm-up phase (\~ 10 min), a main physical conditioning phase (\~ 25 min), and a cool-down or relaxation phase (\~ 10 min). The physical activities to select have a metabolic equivalent tasks (METs) considered as moderate, between 3.0 and 6.0 METs. Trained personnel will assist older adults to perform the activities, including articular flexibility using elastic bands, postural and proprioception exercises with materials such as rubber balls, wood sticks, and small sandbags. These activities will be selected according to the deterioration and joint stiffness that the participants could present.