[Spirulina, exercise and serum glucose control in diabetic rats].

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of Spirulina and/or exercise training in the control of serum glucose homeostasis in diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Young Wistar rats were induced to diabetes by intravenous alloxan administration and separated into four groups: diabetic control (DC), diabetic Spirulina (DS), diabetic exercise (DE) and diabetic exercise Spirulina (DES). RESULTS There were no differences between groups with respect to: body weight, food intake, glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance and blood lactate concentrations during a swimming effort test. DS group showed lower insulin concentrations when compared with DC (pancreas) and DE and DES (serum). CONCLUSION The protocols of exercise and supplementation with Spirulina used in the present study were not able to improve serum glucose homeostasis in diabetic rats.