Spirulina for Protection Against COVID-19 via Regulating ACE2, FNDC5, and NLRP3: A Triple-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial in Obese Adults: Spirulina for protection against COVID-19

Background: Spirulina may protect individuals against viral infections and promote health in obese subjects. This study is designed to investigate the impacts of spirulina on obesity to find a hope to protect this population against COVID-19. Materials and Methods: In a double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial, 24 obese subjects (Mean age: 44.83?3.04 years; mean weight: 111.95?22.55kg; body mass index (BMI): 40.31?6.03kg/m2) were randomly allocated to spirulina (n=12) or control (Co, n=12) groups. Spirulina was administered 2 gr/day for 8?weeks and the Co group received a placebo for a similar period. Before and after the administration of spirulina, the anthropometric measurements were calculated for each subject. Furthermore, ACE2, NLRP3, and FNDC5 gene expression were examined in adults with obesity. Results: Our findings demonstrated that spirulina could not effective in normalizing body weight (BW), BMI, and waist-hip ratio (WHR). Spirulina administration significantly upregulated the gene expression of FNDC5 and significantly reduced NLRP3 and ACE2 gene expression in obese subjects compared with the Co-group. Furthermore, by increasing FNDC5 the gene expression of NLRP3 and ACE2 was significantly reduced. Conclusion: While administration of spirulina for eight weeks could not affect the anthropometric measurements, it showed the greatest impact on the gene expression of NLRP3, ACE2, and FNDC5, emplacing its potential in the protection of obese cases against COVID-19.