The Effects of Spirulina Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Narrative Review
Author | Sokary, Sara |
Author | Bawadi, Hiba |
Author | Zakaria, Zain Zaki |
Author | Al-Asmakh, Maha |
Available date | 2024-04-29T08:04:58Z |
Publication Date | 2024-01-22 |
Publication Name | Journal of Dietary Supplements |
Identifier | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2023.2301366 |
Citation | Sokary, S., Bawadi, H., Zakaria, Z. Z., & Al-Asmakh, M. (2024). The Effects of Spirulina Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Narrative Review. Journal of Dietary Supplements, 1-16. |
ISSN | 1939-0211 |
Abstract | Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is a cyanobacterium associated with multiple health benefits. Cardiometabolic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and diabetes are prevalent yet usually preventable non-communicable diseases. Modifiable risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases include excessive body weight, body inflammation, atherogenic lipid profile, and imbalanced glucose metabolism. This review explores the effects of spirulina on cardiometabolic diseases risk factors. Spirulina was effective in reducing body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference, with a potential dose-dependent effect. It also decreased interleukin 6, an important biomarker of body inflammation, by inhibiting NADPH oxidase enzyme, and lowering insulin resistance. spirulina supplementation also reduced triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Additionally, spirulina reduced fasting blood sugar and post-prandial blood sugar and increased insulin sensitivity, but no effect was observed on glycated hemoglobin A1c. The diverse nutrients, such as phycocyanin, gamma-linolenic acid, and vitamin B12, present in spirulina contribute to its cardiometabolic benefits. The doses used are heterogeneous for most studies, ranging from 1 to 8 grams daily, but most studies administered spirulina for 3 months to observe an effect. The collective evidence suggests that spirulina supplements may help improve risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases, thus, preventing its development. However, due to the heterogeneity of the results, more randomized clinical trials are needed to draw robust conclusions about spirulina’s therapeutic potential in ameliorating risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases and fully elucidate the mechanisms by which it exerts its effects. |
Sponsor | Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library. |
Language | en |
Publisher | Taylor & Francis |
Subject | Body weight cardiometabolic diseases glucose metabolism inflammation lipid profile spirulina |
Type | Article |
Pagination | 1-16 |
ESSN | 1939-022X |
Files in this item
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
-
Biomedical Research Center Research [709 items ]
-
Biomedical Sciences [692 items ]
-
Human Nutrition [370 items ]