Spirulina's antioxidant and immune effects in animals and people
What it found
Spirulina activates the body's own antioxidant enzymes, blocks damage to fats and DNA, and mops up free radicals.
In people, it also seems to change immune signals and protect muscles after exercise.
What they found
Studies in people
Muscle damage after exercise
Clinical trials show spirulina prevents skeletal muscle damage when exercise causes oxidative stress.
Antibodies and immune signals
In people, spirulina can boost antibody production and turn the activity of cytokine genes up or down, which changes immune and inflammatory responses.
Animal and lab studies
Antioxidant enzymes switched on
Spirulina activates the body's cellular antioxidant enzymes and raises the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase. It also stops damage to fats and DNA and mops up free radicals.
A ceiling on antioxidant effect
There seems to be a level above which spirulina's antioxidant activity tapers off rather than rising further.
How it might work
The exact molecular steps are unclear, but phycocyanin and beta-carotene appear to be the important molecules. Spirulina also affects the ERK1/2, JNK, p38 and IκB pathways.
What the authors conclude
“The molecular mechanism(s) by which Spirulina induces these activities is unclear, but phycocyanin and β-carotene are important molecules.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say this review offers new insight into spirulina's potential therapeutic uses.
- They suggest it may give new ideas for future studies.
How it was done
Oxidative stress and a poorly working immune system are behind many human diseases, including hardening of the arteries, an enlarged heart, heart failure and high blood pressure. The authors wanted to see whether spirulina's effects on these processes matter for human health.
The authors pulled together and discussed studies of spirulina's antioxidant, immune and anti-inflammatory effects in both animals and people, along with the mechanisms behind them. They also looked at how spirulina is sold and regulated in different countries.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The exact molecular steps by which spirulina produces these effects are still unclear.
- Much of the evidence comes from animals and lab work, which cannot show what happens in people.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Yangtze University, China; University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic; University of Medicine and Pharmacy Grigore T. Popa, Romania
The paper
- Title
- The antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities of Spirulina: an overview
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Wu Q, Liu L, Miron A, Klímová B, Wan D, Kuča K (2016). The antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities of Spirulina: an overview. Archives of toxicology. doi:10.1007/s00204-016-1744-5PubMed 27259333DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error