Potential Therapeutic Role of Dietary Supplementation with <i>Spirulina platensis</i> on the Erectile Function of Obese Rats Fed a Hypercaloric Diet
Anderson Fellyp Avelino Diniz, Iara Leão Luna de Souza, Elba dos Santos Ferreira, Maria Thaynan de Lima Carvalho, Bárbara Cavalcanti Barros, Paula Benvindo Ferreira, Maria da Conceição Correia Silva, Francisco Fernandes Lacerda Júnior, Lydiane de Lima Tavares Toscano, Alexandre Sérgio Silva, Fabiana de Andrade Cavalcante, Bagnólia Araújo da Silva
Abstract
Spirulina platensis , an important source of bioactive compounds, is a multicellular, filamentous cyanobacterium rich in high-quality proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Due to its nutrient composition, the alga is considered a complete food and is recognized for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiobesity, and reproprotective effects. All of which are important for prevention and treatment of organic and metabolic disorders such as obesity and erectile dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the modulatory role of Spirulina platensis food supplementation and the mechanisms of action involved in reversing the damage caused by a hypercaloric diet on the erectile function of rats. The animals were divided into a standard diet group (SD, <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M1"><mml:mi>n</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>5</mml:mn></mml:math>); a hypercaloric diet group (HCD, <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M2"><mml:mi>n</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>5</mml:mn></mml:math>); a hypercaloric diet group supplemented with S. platensis at doses of 25 (HCD+SP25, <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M3"><mml:mi>n</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>5</mml:mn></mml:math>), 50 (HCD+SP50, <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M4"><mml:mi>n</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>5</mml:mn></mml:math>), and 100 mg/kg (HCD+SP100, <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M5"><mml:mi>n</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>5</mml:mn></mml:math>); and a hypercaloric diet group subsequently fed a standard diet (HCD+SD, <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" id="M6"><mml:mi>n</mml:mi><mml:mo>=</mml:mo><mml:mn>5</mml:mn></mml:math>). In the rats fed a hypercaloric diet, dietary supplementation with S. platensis effectively increased the number of erections while decreasing latency to initiate penile erection. Additionally, S. platensis increases NO bioavailability, reduces inflammation by reducing the release of contractile prostanoids, enhances the relaxation effect promoted by acetylcholine (ACh), restores contractile reactivity damage and cavernous relaxation, reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS), and increases cavernous total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Food supplementation with S. platensis thus restores erectile function in obese rats, reduces production of contractile prostanoids, reduces oxidative stress, and increases NO bioavailability. Food supplementation with S. platensis thus emerges as a promising new therapeutic alternative for the treatment of erectile dysfunction as induced by obesity.