Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine· 2008· Review
Spirulina in Clinical Practice: Evidence‐Based Human Applications
- 333citations
- 2008year
Short summary
Spirulina, a blue-green alga used by NASA, shows potential clinical benefits including immune modulation, anti-inflammatory effects, and possible anticancer, antiviral, and antiallergic properties, supported by some randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Spirulina modulates immune functions and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties.
- It inhibits histamine release from mast cells, suggesting antiallergic potential.
- Some studies indicate possible anticancer and antiviral effects.
- Evidence includes randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Spirulina or Arthrospira is a blue-green alga that became famous after it was successfully used by NASA as a dietary supplement for astronauts on space missions. It has the ability to modulate immune functions and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the release of histamine by mast cells. Multiple studies investigating the efficacy and the potential clinical applications of Spirulina in treating several diseases have been performed and a few randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews suggest that this alga may improve several symptoms and may even have an anticancer, antiviral and antiallergic effects. Current and potential clinical applications, issues of safety, indications, side-effects and levels of evidence are addressed in this review. Areas of ongoing and future research are also discussed.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2008 · DOI ↗
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Field: Aquatic Science
Aquatic ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences