Spirulina

Spirulina, commonly known as “blue-green algae”, is a nontoxic cyanobacterium that is rich in various nutrients and bioactive pigments and polyphenols. Spirulina contains many antioxidant compounds and could have beneficial cardiometabolic effects.

Quick Answer

What it is

Spirulina, commonly known as “blue-green algae”, is a nontoxic cyanobacterium that is rich in various nutrients and bioactive pigments and polyphenols. Spirulina contains many antioxidant compounds and could have beneficial cardiometabolic effects.

Key findings

  • Grade B: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) (Dyslipidemia)
  • Grade B: Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile (Metabolic Health)
  • Grade B: Allergy Symptoms (Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever))

Safety

No specific caution or interaction language was detected in the current summary/outcome notes.

ℹ️ Quick Facts: Spirulina

Quick Facts: Spirulina

  • Best Evidence:Grade B
  • Conditions Studied:32
  • Research Outcomes:304
  • Grade B Findings:4
  • Key Effect:Metabolic Health
Outcomes by grade:
A0
B4
C17
D9
32 conditions · 304 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

Grade:
Effect:
Size:
Sort:
|
B
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
Small Improvement
23 studies
smallImproves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
Improves
?
Triglycerides
Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study
Worsens
?
Liver Fat
1 study
Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
Improves
?
Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)
Improves
B
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
Small Increase
2 studies
smallImproves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
Improves
?
Triglycerides
Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
2 studies
Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Improves
?
Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
Improves
?
Fat Oxidation
1 study
Improves
?
Glutathione (GSH)
1 study
Improves
?
Glutathione Reductase
1 study
Improves
?
Interleukin 6
Improves
?
Muscular Endurance
Improves
?
Plasma Vitamin C
1 study
Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
1 study
Improves
B
Allergy Symptoms
Large Improvement
largeImproves
?
Interferon Gamma
2 studies
Improves
?
Interleukin 4
Improves
?
Nasal Congestion
2 studies
Improves
?
Interleukin 1-alpha
1 study
Improves
?
Interleukin 1-beta
1 study
Improves
?
Interleukin 10
1 study
Improves
?
Interleukin 2
1 study
Improves
B
Body Fat
Small Decrease
smallImproves
?
Weight
Improves
?
Follistatin
1 study
Improves
?
IGF-1
Improves
?
Muscle Mass
1 study
Improves
?
Myostatin
1 study
Improves
?
Oxygen Uptake
1 study
Improves
C
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
Small Increase
1 study
smallImproves
D
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
No effect
none
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
11 studies
Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
Improves
?
Triglycerides
Improves
?
Blood glucose
Improves
?
Superoxide Dismutase Activity
6 studies
Improves
?
Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)
Improves
?
HbA1c
Improves
?
Weight
Improves
?
Body Fat
Improves
?
Insulin
3 studies
Worsens
?
vLDL-C
3 studies
Improves
?
Appetite
Worsens
?
Waist circumference
2 studies
Improves
?
Waist-Hip Ratio
2 studies
Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study
Improves
?
Insulin Resistance
1 study
Improves
?
Interleukin 6
Improves
?
Macrophage Inhibitory Cytokine 1
1 study
Improves
?
Nesfatin-1
1 study
Improves
?
Omentin-1
1 study
Improves
?
Oxygen Uptake
1 study
Improves
?
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
1 study
Improves
C
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
Small Increase
1 study
smallImproves
?
Interleukin 6
Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
2 studies
Improves
?
Interleukin 2
2 studies
Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Improves
?
Natural Killer Cell Content
2 studies
Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
2 studies
Improves
?
Triglycerides
Improves
?
Blood glucose
Improves
?
CD8 Lymphocytes
1 study
Improves
?
Complement Component 3
1 study
Improves
?
Immunoglobulin A
1 study
Improves
?
Immunoglobulin G
1 study
Improves
?
Insulin
1 study
Worsens
?
Insulin Resistance
1 study
Improves
?
Interferon Gamma
1 study
Improves
?
Interleukin 4
Improves
?
Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1
1 study
Improves
?
Natural Killer Cell Activity
Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
Improves
?
Red Blood Cell Count
1 study
Improves
?
T Cell Count
1 study
Improves
?
Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)
Improves
?
Treg Cells
Improves
?
White Blood Cell Count
Improves
C
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
Small Increase
1 study
smallImproves
?
Superoxide Dismutase Activity
6 studies
Improves
?
Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)
Improves
?
Blood Pressure
Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
2 studies
Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
Improves
?
Triglycerides
Improves
?
Arterial Stiffness
Improves
?
Blood glucose
Improves
?
Endothelin-1
1 study
Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study
Worsens
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
Improves
?
sE-Selectin
1 study
Improves
?
sICAM-1
1 study
Improves
?
Weight
Improves
C
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
Small Increase
1 study
smallImproves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
4 studies
Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
Improves
?
Triglycerides
Improves
?
Blood glucose
Improves
?
Blood Pressure
Improves
?
Weight
Improves
?
Interleukin 6
Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study
Worsens
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
1 study
Improves
?
vLDL-C
1 study
Improves
C
Arterial Stiffness
Small Improvement
smallImproves
?
Body Fat
Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
Improves
?
Triglycerides
Improves
?
Waist-Hip Ratio
2 studies
Improves
?
Weight
Improves
?
Blood Pressure
Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
1 study
Improves
?
Nesfatin-1
1 study
Improves
?
Omentin-1
1 study
Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
Improves
?
Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)
Improves
C
Adiponectin
Small Increase
1 study
smallImproves
?
Body Mass Index (BMI)
14 studies
Improves
?
Weight
Improves
?
Body Fat
Improves
?
Waist circumference
6 studies
Improves
?
Muscle Mass
2 studies
Improves
?
Appetite
Worsens
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
1 study
Improves
?
Follistatin
1 study
Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
1 study
Improves
?
Hip Circumference
1 study
Improves
?
IGF-1
Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study
Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Improves
?
Myostatin
1 study
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
Improves
?
Triglycerides
Improves
?
Waist-Hip Ratio
1 study
Improves
C
Hemoglobin
Small Increase
1 study
smallImproves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
2 studies
Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
2 studies
Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
Improves
?
Triglycerides
Improves
?
Insulin Resistance
1 study
Improves
?
Liver Fat
1 study
Improves
?
Weight
Improves
C
Adiponectin
Small Increase
1 study
smallImproves
?
Blood glucose
Improves
?
HbA1c
Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
2 studies
Improves
?
Triglycerides
Improves
?
Interleukin 6
Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
1 study
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
Improves
?
Weight
Improves
C
Glycemic Control
Small Improvement
smallImproves
?
Superoxide Dismutase Activity
6 studies
Improves
?
Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)
Improves
C
Adiponectin
Small Increase
1 study
smallImproves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
11 studies
Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
Improves
?
Triglycerides
Improves
?
Blood glucose
Improves
?
HbA1c
Improves
?
Insulin
3 studies
Worsens
?
vLDL-C
3 studies
Improves
?
Appetite
Worsens
?
Body Fat
Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
1 study
Improves
?
Hip Circumference
1 study
Improves
?
Muscle Mass
1 study
Improves
?
Waist circumference
1 study
Improves
?
Waist-Hip Ratio
1 study
Improves
?
Weight
Improves
C
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
Small Increase
1 study
smallImproves
?
Creatine Kinase
1 study
Worsens
?
Muscle Soreness
Improves
?
Muscular Endurance
Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
Improves
?
Power Output
Improves
?
Respiratory Exchange Ratio
1 study
Improves
?
Superoxide Dismutase Activity
1 study
Improves
C
CD4 Lymphocytes
Small Decrease
1 study
smallWorsens
?
CD8 Lymphocytes
1 study
Improves
?
Complement Component 4
1 study
Improves
?
Hemoglobin
1 study
Improves
?
Immunoglobulin A
1 study
Improves
?
Immunoglobulin G
1 study
Improves
?
Immunoglobulin M
1 study
Improves
?
Neutrophil Count
1 study
Improves
?
Serum Platelets
1 study
Improves
?
White Blood Cell Count
Improves
C
Anemia Risk
Small Improvement
1 study
smallImproves
?
Red Blood Cell Count
1 study
Improves
?
White Blood Cell Count
Improves
C
Muscle Soreness
Mixed effect
?
Power Output
Improves
C
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
smallImproves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
1 study
Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
Improves
?
Triglycerides
Improves
?
vLDL-C
1 study
Improves
?
Weight
Improves
C
Power Output
Small Improvement
smallImproves
?
Sprint Performance Metrics
1 study
Improves
C
Muscle Soreness
Mixed effect
?
Power Output
Improves
D
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
No effect
none
?
Heart Rate
2 studies
Improves
?
Oxygen Uptake
2 studies
Improves
?
Blood Lactate (Exercise)
1 study
Worsens
?
Body Fat
Improves
?
CD8 Lymphocytes
1 study
Improves
?
Cognition
1 study
Improves
?
Fat Oxidation
1 study
Improves
?
Hemoglobin
1 study
Improves
?
Muscular Endurance
Improves
?
Natural Killer Cell Content
1 study
Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
Improves
?
Oxygen Cost of Exercise
Improves
?
Power Output
Improves
?
Respiratory Exchange Ratio
1 study
Improves
?
Stress Signs and Symptoms
1 study
Improves
?
T Cell Count
1 study
Improves
?
Treg Cells
Improves
?
Weight
Improves
D
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
No effect
none
?
Muscular Endurance
Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
Improves
?
Respiratory Exchange Ratio
2 studies
Improves
?
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
1 study
Improves
?
Creatine Kinase
1 study
Worsens
?
Fat Oxidation
1 study
Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study
Improves
?
Hemoglobin
1 study
Improves
?
Muscle Soreness
Improves
?
Oxygen Cost of Exercise
Improves
?
Oxygen Uptake
1 study
Improves
?
Power Output
Improves
?
Superoxide Dismutase Activity
1 study
Improves
D
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
No effect
none
?
Triglycerides
Improves
?
Blood glucose
Improves
?
Blood Pressure
Improves
?
Body Fat
Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study
Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
1 study
Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Improves
?
Oxygen Uptake
1 study
Improves
?
Total cholesterol
Improves
?
Weight
Improves
D
Sperm Count
No effect
1 study
none
?
Sperm Quality
Improves
D
Bilirubin
No effect
none
?
Blood Clotting
1 study
Improves
?
Blood glucose
Improves
?
Creatinine
1 study
Improves
?
P-Selectin
1 study
Improves
?
Pain
1 study
Improves
?
Serum Platelets
1 study
Improves
?
Urea
1 study
Improves
D
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
No effect
none
?
Cognition
1 study
Improves
?
Stress Signs and Symptoms
1 study
Improves
D
Aerobic Exercise Metrics
No effect
none
?
Blood Lactate (Exercise)
1 study
Worsens
?
CD8 Lymphocytes
1 study
Improves
?
Natural Killer Cell Content
1 study
Improves
?
Power Output
Improves
?
T Cell Count
1 study
Improves
?
Treg Cells
Improves
D
Anxiety Symptoms
No effect
1 study
none
?
Blood Pressure
Improves
?
Day-Time Dysfunction
1 study
Improves
?
Depression Symptoms
Improves
?
Fatigue Symptoms
1 study
Improves
?
Hip Circumference
1 study
Improves
?
Sleep Disturbance Signs and Symptoms
1 study
Improves
?
Sleep Duration
1 study
Improves
?
Sleep Efficiency
1 study
Improves
?
Sleep Latency
1 study
Improves
?
Sleep Quality
1 study
Improves
?
Stress Signs and Symptoms
1 study
Improves
?
Waist circumference
1 study
Improves
?
Weight
Improves
?
Lung Function
1 study
Improves
?
Fatigue Symptoms
1 study
Improves
?
Arsenic Poisoning Signs and Symptoms
Improves
?
HVC Viral Load
Improves
?
Oral Cancer Symptoms
Improves

Evidence by Condition

Best grade per condition (each condition may have multiple outcomes)

BMetabolic Health
1
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileImprovesOxidative Stress BiomarkersImprovesTriglyceridesImproves
BAllergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
1
Allergy SymptomsImprovesInterferon GammaImprovesInterleukin 4Improves
BDyslipidemia
1
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)ImprovesLow-density lipoprotein (LDL)ImprovesTotal cholesterolImproves
BBody Composition
1
Body FatImprovesWeightImprovesFollistatinImproves
CObesity
2
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileImprovesAerobic Exercise MetricsHigh-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves
CImmune Health
1
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileImprovesInterleukin 6ImprovesHigh-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves
CHigh Blood Pressure
1
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileImprovesSuperoxide Dismutase ActivityImprovesTotal Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)Improves
CHigh Cholesterol
1
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileImprovesHigh-density lipoprotein (HDL)ImprovesLow-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves
COverweight
1
Arterial StiffnessImprovesBody FatImprovesLow-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves
CWeight Loss & Maintenance
1
AdiponectinImprovesBody Mass Index (BMI)ImprovesWeightImproves
CNonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
1
HemoglobinImprovesHigh-density lipoprotein (HDL)ImprovesLiver EnzymesWorsens
CType 2 Diabetes
1
AdiponectinImprovesBlood glucoseImprovesHbA1cImproves
CHuman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
1
Glycemic ControlImprovesSuperoxide Dismutase ActivityImprovesTotal Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)Improves
CMetabolic Syndrome
1
AdiponectinImprovesHigh-density lipoprotein (HDL)ImprovesLow-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves
CMuscle Recovery
1
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileImprovesCreatine KinaseWorsensMuscle SorenessImproves
CGeneral Cancer Care and Prevention
1
CD4 LymphocytesWorsensCD8 LymphocytesImprovesComplement Component 4Improves
CIron Deficiency Anemia
1
Anemia RiskImprovesRed Blood Cell CountImprovesWhite Blood Cell CountImproves
CNephrotic Syndrome
1
Blood glucoseImprovesHigh-density lipoprotein (HDL)ImprovesLow-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves
CRugby Performance
1
Power OutputImprovesSprint Performance MetricsImproves
CMuscle Size & Strength
1
Muscle SorenessPower OutputImproves

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