Spirulina as a food supplement and its health effects
What it found
Spirulina is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and pigments, and has been used as a nutritional supplement for decades.
The authors describe possible antibacterial, anticancer, immune-stimulating and antioxidant effects.
What they found
Nutritional makeup
Spirulina contains 55%-70% protein, 15%-25% carbohydrates, 5%-8% essential fatty acids, plus minerals, vitamins and pigments such as carotenes, phycocyanin and chlorophyll.
Long use as supplement
It has been used as a nutritional supplement for decades. NASA used it for astronauts on space missions, after which its popularity increased.
Possible health effects
The authors list antibacterial, anticancer, metalloprotective, immune-stimulating and antioxidant effects. They say it also has anti-inflammatory qualities by stopping mast cells from releasing histamine.
How it may work
The authors say its high amounts of protein, carbohydrate, lipid, vital amino and fatty acids, dietary minerals and vitamins are what produce these benefits.
What the authors conclude
- They present up-to-date and possible biological aspects, patents applied on Spirulina and heights of confirmation.
- They also explore the extent of current and future exploration.
How it was done
Spirulina has a chemical composition rich in vitamins, minerals, phenolics, fatty acids, amino acids and pigments that may benefit human health when added to meals.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This is a review of existing information, not a new study in people.
- It cannot show whether spirulina causes any health effect in people.
- It cannot show how much spirulina a person would need to take for any effect.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Nirmala College of Pharmacy, India; Gandhigram Rural Institute Deemed University, India; Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, India
The paper
- Title
- Food and drug industry applications of microalgae Spirulina platensis: A review
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Maddiboyina B, Vanamamalai HK, Roy H, et al (2023). Food and drug industry applications of microalgae Spirulina platensis: A review. Journal of basic microbiology. doi:10.1002/jobm.202200704PubMed 36720046DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error