The effect of spirulina on type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

What this study found

Spirulina supplementation improved fasting blood glucose and several lipid parameters in type 2 diabetes, but did not show a clear effect on HbA1c. Pooled effects favored spirulina for fasting blood glucose (-17.88 mg/dl; 95% CI: -26.99, -8.78), triglycerides (-30.99 mg/dl; 95% CI: -45.20, -16.77), total cholesterol (-18.47 mg/dl; 95% CI: -33.54, -3.39), LDL-C (-20.04 mg/dl; 95% CI: -34.06, -6.02), VLDL (-6.96 mg/dl; 95% CI: -9.71, -4.22), and HDL-C (4.18 mg/dl; 95% CI: 1.67, 6.69). HbA1c was not significantly changed (-0.12%; 95% CI: -0.70, 0.46), and postprandial blood sugar was also not…

Study & population

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 8 clinical studies including 9 active spirulina arms in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Intervention

Spirulina (Arthrospira maxima) was given in active arms at doses ranging from 0.8 to 8 g/day for 45 to 90 days.

Key limitation

Findings are preliminary because only 8 studies were included, intervention durations were short (45 to 90 days), and the review noted risk of bias.

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