Spirulina, inflammation and quality of life in multiple sclerosis
What it found
In 80 people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, taking 1 g of spirulina daily for 12 weeks lowered two inflammation markers and improved some physical and sexual quality-of-life scores, but not mental health scores.
The authors say larger, longer trials are needed.
What they found
Studies in people
Inflammation markers
Blood levels of IL-1β and IL-6 fell significantly in the spirulina group compared with the placebo group. The placebo group showed no significant change.
Physical quality of life
Scores for health perception, physical function, role limitation due to physical problems, and energy improved significantly more in the spirulina group than in the placebo group.
Sexual function
Sexual function scores improved significantly more with spirulina than with placebo, but sexual satisfaction scores did not differ significantly between groups.
Mental health
No significant differences were found between groups for emotional wellbeing, health distress, social function, cognitive function, overall quality of life, or total mental health.
Weight and body measures
Body weight dropped significantly more in the spirulina group than in the placebo group. The change in BMI was borderline, and waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio showed no significant differences.
Side effects
The number of people who stopped taking the supplement because of side effects did not differ significantly between groups. The main complaints were mild stomach pain or cramp and constipation.
What the authors conclude
“Spirulina shows promise as a safe adjunct therapy in MS management, but larger trials with longer follow-up are warranted to confirm these findings and explore its clinical utility alongside DMTs.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that 12-week spirulina supplementation reduces inflammation and improves physical health, including energy and sexual performance, in patients with RRMS.
- They say spirulina "shows promise as a safe adjunct therapy in MS management".
- They advise that larger trials with longer follow-up are needed to confirm these findings and explore its use alongside standard treatments.
How it was done
Multiple sclerosis is a long-term condition where inflammation and oxidative stress damage nerves. The authors wanted to see whether spirulina, a microalga rich in anti-inflammatory compounds, could help as an add-on to standard treatment.
They randomly assigned 80 adults with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis to take either 1 g of spirulina or a placebo each day for 12 weeks. Sixteen people dropped out, and all 80 were included in the main analysis.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a 12-week study, so it cannot show whether the effects last longer or whether they lead to fewer relapses or less disability over time.
- The study was done at a single centre in Iran, so the results may not apply to other populations or healthcare settings.
- The trial did not measure oxidative stress markers or gut bacteria, so it cannot explain exactly how spirulina might work.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The protocol for this study was designed in alignment with the Declaration of Helsinki, the SPIRIT checklist, and established ethical standards for clinical research. It received approval from the Medical Ethics Committee at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran (ID: IR.MUI.PHANUT.REC.1402.070). Throughout the study, the research committee investigator will oversee protocol procedures and ensure any modifications are reviewed and approved by the committee. Participants will continue their standard treatment regimen during the study, which will not interfere with their usual care. The study is currently in the implementation phase. Consent for publication: All authors have given their formal consent for publication. Additionally, patient consent has been secured to disclose non-identifiable information. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
- Authors work at
- Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran
The paper
- Title
- Effects of spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis supplementation on inflammation, physical and mental quality of life, and anthropometric measures in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS): a triple-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Karimi S, Shaygannejad V, Mohammadalipour A, Feizi A, Hooshmand S, Kafeshani M (2025). Effects of spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis supplementation on inflammation, physical and mental quality of life, and anthropometric measures in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS): a triple-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Nutrition journal. doi:10.1186/s12937-025-01200-xFree full textPubMed 40877830DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error