The effects of spirulina intake on clinical and metabolic parameters in Alzheimer's disease: A randomized, double‐blind, controlled trial

Abstract

The current study aimed to determine the effects of spirulina intake on cognitive function and metabolic status among patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). This randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was done among 60 subjects with AD. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 500 mg/day spirulina or a placebo (each n = 30) twice a day for 12 weeks. Mini-mental state examination score (MMSE) was recorded in all patients before and after intervention. Blood samples were obtained at baseline and after 12 weeks' intervention to determine metabolic markers. Compared with placebo, spirulina intake resulted in a significant improvement in MMSE score (spirulina group: +0.30 ± 0.99 vs. Placebo group: À0.38 ± 1.06, respectively, p = 0.01). In addition, spirulina intake decreased high-sensitivity Creactive protein (hs-CRP) (spirulina group: À0.17 ± 0.29 vs. Placebo group: +0.05 ± 0.27 mg/L, p = 0.006), fasting glucose (spirulina group: À4.56 ± 7.93 vs. Placebo group: +0.80 ± 2.95 mg/dL, p = 0.002), insulin (spirulina group: À0.37 ± 0.62 vs. Placebo group: +0.12 ± 0.40 μIU/mL, p = 0.001) and insulin resistance (spirulina group: À0.08 ± 0.13 vs. Placebo group: 0.03 ± 0.08, p = 0.001), and increased insulin sensitivity (spirulina group: +0.003 ± 0.005 vs. Placebo group: À0.001 ± 0.003, p = 0.003) compared with the placebo. Overall, our study showed that spirulina intake for 12 weeks in patients with AD improved cognitive function, glucose homeostasis parameters, and hs-CRP levels.

Potential Protective Effects of Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) against In Vitro Toxicity Induced by Heavy Metals (Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead) on SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells

“…In the final section, our study demonstrates how the increased resistance of cultured cells to heavy metal toxicity may be an indication of the potential in vivo protective role of Spirulina, especially for neurological tissues, and should be an inspiration for further research aiming to achieving practical relevance [11].…”

“…Several studies have successfully demonstrated that Spirulina not only has beneficial effects on the development of the nervous system, but it also has a crucial role in the prevention of oxidative stress [8,9], in the treatment of ROS-induced pathologies, and in the development of new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's [10]. Omid Reza et al, in a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, demonstrated that the in vivo administration of Spirulina is useful for improving brain function and metabolic pathways in Alzheimer's Disease [11]. Furthermore, it is a rich source of C-Phycocyanin (PCB), an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase that contributes to oxidative stress in various neurological/neurodegenerative diseases [12].…”

The mechanism of action of Spirulina as antidiabetic: a narrative review

“…It reduces inflammation by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines; 5 iii) immune system booster: Spirulina has been shown to improve immune function by increasing the production of antibodies and white blood cells; iv) immunomodulatory activity: Spirulina enhances the immune system by increasing the production of antibodies, cytokines, and natural killer cells; v) anticancer activity: Spirulina has been found to have anticancer properties due to its ability to inhibit tumor growth and encourage apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells; vi) neuroprotective activity: Spirulina protects neurons from oxidative stress and inflammation, which are connected to neurodegenerative illnesses like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's; vii) antidiabetic: Spirulina has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels in animal studies by enhancing insulin sensitivity; viii) cardiovascular health: Spirulina may help lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels, which can improve cardiovascular health; ix) neuroprotective: some studies suggest that Spirulina may have neuroprotective properties due to its ability to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain. [18][19][20][21] Spirulina is utilized as a dietary supplement for weight loss, diabetes management, cardiovascular health, and skin health. It is used for several purposes including the following: i) nutritional supplement, Spirulina is a valuable origin of vitamins, protein, and minerals.…”

Stalling the Course of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Could Cyanobacteria Constitute a New Approach toward Therapy?

“…Supplementation considerably improved the Mini-Mental State Examination score, indicating an enhancement in cognitive function. It also had a favorable impact on the metabolic status by lowering C-reactive protein, fasting glucose, insulin levels, and insulin resistance while increasing insulin sensitivity [89].…”