Physical activity and diet did not change over the study duration. The mean number of days during
which the supplement was taken was significantly lower for spirulina than for soya beans (44.8 ± 19.1
versus 59.4 ± 1.5 days, p = 0.005). This could be explained by the fact that all subjects on spirulina as
opposed to none on soya bean complained about the taste, saying that it was not palatable. This
difference in taste could account for the significantly lower compliance demonstrated in the spirulina
group and partly for the number of losses to follow up observed (65% follow up rate in spirulina
versus 100% follow up rate in soya beans). But despite the loss to follow up and lower number of days
of intake registered in the spirulina group (45 days), the effect on insulin sensitivity was significant.
This mean duration of 45 days is similar to the duration of spirulina intake in a Mexican study done to
assess the impact of spirulina on blood pressure [18]. However, we recommend that future studies
should use spirulina forms which are more palatable to improve compliance.
After randomisation, the spirulina and soya bean groups were comparable for all anthropometric
and biological parameters that were measured (Table 2).