Marine phytoplankton improves recovery and sustains immune function in humans and lowers proinflammatory immunoregulatory cytokines in a rat model

Microalgae and exercise: from molecular mechanisms and brain health to clinical perspectives in the context of 3P medicine

Microalgae are emerging as innovative bioresources with diverse therapeutic applications, particularly in cardiovascular health, neuroprotection, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant responses. These bioactive compounds effectively reduce inflammatory mediators, mitigate oxidative stress, and support mitochondrial health-critical factors in exercise performance, recovery, and chronic disease management. Notably, microalgae such as Spirulina and Chlorella exhibit promising biological activities in preclinical and limited clinical studies, including anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. However, large-scale, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) remain scarce, limiting their clinical translation. Although preliminary evidence suggests potential benefits for sports performance, oxidative stress reduction, and cognitive function, most studies are small-scale, preclinical, or observational. Large, well-powered RCTs are needed to confirm their efficacy and safety. Within the framework of Predictive, Preventive, and Personalized Medicine (PPPM/3PM), this review explores microalgae's potential in predictive diagnostics, targeted prevention, and individualized supplementation strategies. Despite promising findings, clinical application requires a cautious approach due to insufficient high-quality trials supporting microalgae-based interventions in medical practice. Future research should prioritize RCTs, pharmacokinetic studies, and long-term safety assessments to establish evidence-based guidelines for their use in health and disease management.

Exercise-Induced Hippocampal Neurogenesis Is Attenuated by Inhibition of Monocarboxylate Transporter 2

Several studies have suggested that lactate mediates exercise-induced hippocampal neurogenesis. To investigate this, we used a monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) inhibitor, alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (4CIN), to attenuate the signaling effect of endogenous lactate in the hippocampus. Ten-week-old ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with 100 mg/kg 4CIN before beginning moderate-intensity treadmill exercise 5 days a week for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of intervention, we evaluated hippocampal neurogenesis, hippocampal protein expression relevant to neurogenesis, and learning and memory function using histology, western blotting, and behavioral tests, respectively. We found that the inhibition of MCT2 by 4CIN led to a reduction in the number of exercise-induced newly generated neurons in the dentate gyrus, and the hippocampal protein expression level of the neurogenesis marker was in line with these histological results. Furthermore, we showed that the inhibition of MCT2 negated the improvements in learning and memory induced by exercise training. Based on these results, we propose that lactate is a potential mediator of exercise-induced hippocampal neurogenesis.

Tetraselmis chuii Supplementation Increases Skeletal Muscle Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 and Antioxidant Enzyme Gene Expression, and Peak Oxygen Uptake in Healthy Adults: A Randomised Crossover Trial

Superoxide dismutase-rich Tetraselmis chuii (T. chuii) is derived from marine microalgae and has been reported to increase gene expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and related antioxidant enzymes in myoblast tissue culture models. Human research has indicated that T. chuii supplementation can improve recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage, but its effects on endurance exercise performance and the molecular bases that may underlie any ergogenic effects are unclear. Healthy participants underwent 14 days of supplementation with 25 mg·day-1T. chuii and placebo in a randomized, double-blind, crossover experimental design. Prior to and following each supplementation period, participants completed a high-intensity cycling test to assess time to exhaustion and peak oxygen uptake (V˙O2peak). A resting skeletal muscle biopsy was collected after both supplementation periods to assess gene expression changes. Compared to pre-supplementation values, V˙O2peak was increased following T. chuii (p = 0.013) but not placebo (p = 0.66). Fold-change in glutathione peroxidase 7 [(GPX7) 1.26 ± 1.37], glutathione-disulfide reductase [(GSR) 1.22 ± 1.41], glutathione S-transferase Mu 3 [(GSTM3) 1.34 ± 1.49], peroxiredoxin 6 [(PRDX6) 1.36 ± 1.57], extracellular signal-regulated kinase 3 [(ERK3) 1.92 ± 2.42], NRF2 (1.62 ± 2.16), p38 alpha [(p38a) 1.33 ± 1.58] and sirtuin 1 [(SIRT1) 1.73 ± 2.25] gene expression were higher after T. chuii compared to placebo supplementation (p < 0.05). Short-term T. chuii supplementation increased V˙O2peak and skeletal muscle gene expression of key enzymatic antioxidants (GPX7, GSR, GSTM3, and PRDX6), signalling kinases (ERK3 and p38a), post-translational regulators (SIRT1), and transcription factors (NRF2) that may protect against cellular stress insults.

The Potential of Superoxide Dismutase-Rich Tetraselmis chuii as a Promoter of Cellular Health

Tetraselmis chuii (T. chuii) is a green, marine, eukaryotic, microalgae that was authorized in the European Union (EU) as a novel food for human consumption in 2014, and as a food supplement in 2017. This narrative review will provide an overview of preclinical and clinical trials assessing the efficacy of a T. chuii-derived ingredient, characterized by a high superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (SOD-rich T. chuii), to improve various aspects of cellular health. Collectively, results from in vitro, and more importantly in vivo research, support SOD-rich T. chuii as a potential promoter of cellular health. Principally, the ingredient appears to function as an indirect antioxidant by boosting intracellular antioxidant systems. Moreover, it can positively modulate inflammatory status by up-regulating anti-inflammatory and down-regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and factors. In addition, SOD-rich T. chuii appears to promote cellular health though protecting from DNA damage, boosting immune function, strengthening cell structure and integrity, and positively modulating cell signaling pathways. There is also some evidence to suggest that SOD-rich T. chuii may improve aspects of mitochondrial function through the up-regulation of genes linked to mitochondrial biogenesis and ATP synthesis. From the trials conducted to date, transcriptional activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) appear to be important in mediating the effects of SOD-rich T. chuii on cellular health. These exciting preliminary observations suggest that SOD-rich T. chuii may represent a natural blue food supplement with the potential to enhance various aspects of cellular health.

Exogenous lactate augments exercise-induced improvement in memory but not in hippocampal neurogenesis

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN), the lifelong process of formation of new neurons in the mammalian brain, plays an important role in learning and memory. Exercise is an effective enhancer of AHN; however, the molecular mediators of exercise-induced AHN are unknown. Recently, lactate was considered as an important mediator of exercise-induced AHN. Therefore, we hypothesized that exercise with lactate intake could augment exercise-induced AHN. This study was conducted for 5 weeks with 7-week-old ICR male mice that performed mild-intensity exercise (just below lactate threshold, 55-60%VO_2max) with or without oral administration of lactate 5 days/week. Cell proliferation, neuronal differentiation, neurogenesis-relevant factors, reference and retention memory, and spatial working memory were evaluated at the end of the experiment. The results showed that AHN was enhanced by lactate intake, but exercise-induced AHN was not augmented by exercise with lactate intake. Nevertheless, exercise-induced improvement in reference and retention memory was augmented by exercise with lactate intake. And spatial working memory was promoted by the co-treatment, also protein expression of hippocampal FNDC5, BDNF, PGC1α, and MCT2 were elevated by the co-treatment. Therefore, our findings suggest that lactate has a potential to be developed as a novel supplement that improves the positive effects of exercise on the hippocampus and its cognitive function.

TetraSOD®, a Unique Marine Microalgae Ingredient, Promotes an Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Status in a Metabolic Syndrome-Induced Model in Rats

Increased oxidative stress has been linked to the pathogenic process of obesity and can trigger inflammation, which is often linked with the risk factors that make up metabolic syndrome (MetS), including obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and hypertension. TetraSOD^®, a natural marine vegan ingredient derived from the microalgae Tetraselmis chuii that is high in the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) has recently demonstrated in vitro increased activity of these key antioxidant enzymes. In the present study, the potential bioactive effects of three dietary dosages of TetraSOD^® in enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms to combat the metabolic disturbances that compose MetS were assessed in rats given a cafeteria (CAF) diet. Chronic supplementation with 0.17, 1.7, and 17 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ of TetraSOD^® for 8 weeks ameliorated the abnormalities associated with MetS, including oxidative stress and inflammation, promoting endogenous antioxidant defence mechanisms in the liver (GPx and GSH), modulating oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in plasma (NOx, oxLDL and IL-10), and regulating genes involved in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory pathways in the liver, mesenteric white adipose tissue (MWAT), thymus, and spleen. Overall, TetraSOD^® appears to be a potential therapeutic option for the management of MetS.

Effects of Tetraselmis chuii Microalgae Supplementation on Anthropometric, Hormonal and Hematological Parameters in Healthy Young Men: A Double-Blind Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Tetraselmis chuii (TC) microalgae supplementation for sixty days on hematological, anthropometric and hormonal parameters in healthy young men. Forty-six men divided into a placebo group (PG; n = 16; 20.77 ± 2.7 years; 72.14 ± 7.18 kg; 1.76 ± 0.07 m), a group supplemented with 25 mg/day of TC (SG 25; n = 15; 20.40 ± 1.40 years; 71.28 ± 8.26 kg; 1.76 ± 0.05 m) and another group supplemented with 200 mg/day of TC (SG 200; n = 15; 20.83 ± 2.45 years; 72.30 ± 11.13 kg; 1.77 ± 0.08 m) participated in this double-blind study. PG ingested 200 mg/day of lactose powder. Participants underwent 4 assessments (baseline, month 1, month 2 and desadaptation) separated in time by an interval of thirty days. At SG 25 and SG 200, significant increases in percent muscle mass, erythropoietin, insulin-like growth factor 1, free testosterone, leukocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes were observed (p < 0.05). Decreases in the levels of percent fat mass, platelets, hematocrit and mean corpuscular hemoglobin also occurred in these groups (p < 0.05). TC supplementation induced favorable changes on anthropometric, hematological and hormonal levels. In view of the data, it seems that the most effective dose was 25 mg/day of TC.