Investigation of neurochemical and behavioral alterations in the brain during fibromyalgia with supplementation of Spirulina platensis

• Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, exhaustion, cognitive problems, and mood swings. • Treatment are focused on muscle relaxant medications to reduce pain. But common side effects of muscle relaxants include dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, difficulty urinating, constipation, and dry mouth. • Spirulina is widely utilized due to its high content of phycocyanins, phenols, and polysaccharides. • In our research, we discovered that daily supplementation with spirulina was effective in improving the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Aim: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex and long-lasting musculoskeletal disorder characterized by mood changes, fatigue, headache, and extensive musculoskeletal pain. Spirulina has potent antioxidant, antinociceptive, and neuroprotective properties. This study aimed to evaluate spirulina’s capacity to protect rats against FM caused by reserpine. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats received a subcutaneous injection of reserpine (1 mg/kg) once a day for three days. Subsequently, they were administered an oral dose of 400 mg/kg of Spirulina for 21 days. Many molecular, biochemical, and behavioral tests have been evaluated. Results: Daily spirulina consumption was able to limit the increase in neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and a reduction in biogenic amine levels as well as behavioral alterations. Significance: This study demonstrated for the first time that dietary integration with spirulina could be helpful to reduce the onset of pain, inflammation and mental disturbance in FM patients.