Are There Any Beneficial Effects of Spirulina Supplementation for Metabolic Syndrome Components in Postmenopausal Women?

Abstract

Spirulina is a phytosynthetic filamentous cyanobacterium with microscopic dimensions, which naturally grows in the highly-salted alkaline lakes of Africa, Mexico, America, and Asia. Several bioactive peptides extracted from Spirulina were demonstrated to possess antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, immunomodulatory, antiallergic and antihypertensive properties. It has been reported that the consumption of Spirulina could prevent or manage metabolic syndrome components. In women, metabolic disorders are more prevalent during menopause. Postmenopausal women present higher waist circumference, increased blood pressure, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia, and decreased HDL-cholesterol values, leading to an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Therefore, in order to prevent cardiovascular diseases, it is essential to manage the components of the metabolic syndrome during the postmenopausal period. As recent reports indicated the efficiency of Spirulina supplementation in the management of the metabolic syndrome components, our study aims to review all the clinical trials conducted on this topic. Our main objective is to have a better understanding of whether and how this cyanobacterium could manage the abnormalities included in the metabolic syndrome and if it could be used as a therapeutic approach in postmenopausal women with this condition. We selected relevant articles from PubMed, Google Scholar and CrossRef databases, and a total number of 20 studies met our criteria. All included clinical trials indicated that Spirulina has positive effects in managing metabolic syndrome components. Spirulina is a valuable cyanobacterium that can be used as a food supplement for the management of metabolic syndrome, and it is able to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. The optimal dose and period of administration remain a debated subject, and future investigations are required. Considering the beneficial effects reported against each component of the metabolic syndrome, Spirulina could also be effective in the postmenopausal period, when this syndrome is the most prevalent, but there is a strong need for human clinical trials in order to sustain this observation.

The effects of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) supplementation on anthropometric indices, blood pressure, sleep quality, mental health, fatigue status and quality of life in patients with ulcerative colitis: A randomised, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled trial

“…Indeed, this spiral blue-green microalga is a good source of important nutrients, [25][26][27] and could be used as a complementary therapy for health improvement in several non-communicable diseases. 25,26,28 To the best of our knowledge, the current work is the first randomised, double-blinded, placebocontrolled trial to comprehensively assess the efficacy of spirulina (A. platensis) supplementation on anthropometric indices, blood pressure, sleep quality, anxiety, stress, depression and fatigue status in ulcerative colitis patients. Accordingly, our results revealed that no significant effects were detected in the anthropometric indices or blood pressure, after spirulina supplementation, among patients with ulcerative colitis, in comparison with the placebo group.…”

“…[25][26][27] Spirulina administration has been posited as a complementary therapy for the management of several diseases, owing to its antioxidant, liver-protecting, anti-inflammatory, antihypertension, cancer prevention, anti-viral and antibacterial activities. 25,26,28 Further, contemporary studies have indicated that spirulina represents a good source of tryptophan, which can viably lead to improvements in the mental health of patients. 29 Moradi-Kor et al 30 also reported that spirulina supplementation may reduce adolescent stress, anxiety, depression-related neuroanatomical biochemical and molecular deficits in adult female rats.…”

Effect of Spirulina Supplementation on Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…It was supposed that the high content of potassium in Spirulina might have a lowering effect on blood pressure [ 17 ]. Phycocyanin, a blue pigment with antioxidant activity from Spirulina , decreases parameters of blood pressure by strenghtening the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the aorta after the stimulation of adiponectin [ 19 , 32 ]. Oxidative stress connected to endothelial damage, contributing to a decrease in nitric oxide synthase (NOs), and decreased vasoconstriction has been reported in hypertension [ 15 ].…”

“…Moreover, hypertension is frequently associated with diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. Some studies revealed that Spirulina intake improved glucose and lipid metabolism, reduced oxidative stress, modulated appetite, so it can be considered as a therapeutic nutraceutical not only by reducing blood pressure [ 13 , 32 ]. According to our analysis, Spirulina may potentially reduce blood pressure among hypertensive patients.…”

Microalgae as Future Superfoods: Fostering Adoption through Practice-Based Design Research

“…"The consumption of this cyanobacterium can induce abdominal pain, nausea, or flatulence when it is consumed for the first time. If Spirulina is infected with various contaminants from the water, toxins, heavy metals, or pollutants, it also gives rise to severe gastric perturbances" [31] (p. 15). Thus, it is recommended to research the source of Spirulina and to seek medical advice if it is eaten regularly because prolonged exposure to heavy metals is toxic.…”