The Effects of Spirulina maxima Extract on Memory Improvement in Those with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Spirulina maxima is a marine microalga that has been promoted worldwide as a super food. This study was conducted to evaluate its ability to improve memory in the older adults using Spirulina maxima 70% ethanol extract (SM70EE). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial comprised 80 volunteers recruited from Jeonbuk National University Hospital in Jeonju, Republic of Korea, who were randomly assigned to two groups. The participants received either 1 g/day of SM70EE or a placebo without otherwise changing their diet or physical activity. The participants were examined at baseline and after a 12-week interval to determine whether there were changes in their results for visual learning, visual working memory, and verbal learning tests from the Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and beta-amyloid levels, and total antioxidant capacity. Compared to the placebo group, the treatment group showed a significant improvement in visual learning and visual working memory test results and enhanced vocabulary. SM70EE use was shown to improve memory, with no adverse effects. Its efficacy in alleviating Alzheimer’s disease symptoms was verified for the first time through this clinical trial. SM70EE could play a role in the management of patients with dementia. This trial is registered with registration number of clinical research information service (CRIS: KCT0006161).

The Involvement of Antioxidants in Cognitive Decline and Neurodegeneration: Mens Sana in Corpore Sano

“…In some of the longitudinal studies [ 38 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 45 ], antioxidant consumption was purely estimated based on a questionnaire that assessed the dietary habits of participants, which has a chance to not reflect the actual habits of participants. In placebo-controlled studies, antioxidant levels were controlled either with the administration of natural extracts [ 55 , 80 , 81 , 82 ] or with foods rich in these compounds [ 56 , 61 , 64 , 78 , 79 ]. In the latter case, precisely controlling the amount of antioxidants is more challenging, which could give rise to additional, non-controllable variability in the data.…”

“…Aside from studies that specifically focused on AD, a study by Choi and colleagues [ 82 ] explored the impact of Spirulina maxima , a microalga used as a dietary supplement for its abundance of antioxidants [ 91 ], on memory in a sample of older adults with MCI. Participants were randomly assigned to the experimental or control group and had to take a daily dose of Spirulina extract or a placebo for 12 weeks, respectively.…”

“…Moreover, higher levels of quercetin administered through food sources that are rich in this substance lead to improvements in memory performance compared to low-quercetin foods [ 79 ]. Finally, encouraging data suggests that improvements can be obtained even in the prodromal phases of neurodegenerative diseases, as evidenced by improvements in MCI patients by means of Spirulina maxima extract administration [ 82 ].…”

Exploiting Natural Niches with Neuroprotective Properties: A Comprehensive Review

“…Extracts of Spirulina maxima (70% ethanol) were studied in a 12-week double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial in the elderly, showing a significant improvement in visual learning and visual working memory [182], although the exact components of this extract were not specified by the authors.…”

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

“…FPG-Fasting Plasma Glucose.Human clinical trials have also validated the potential of Spirulina as a nutraceutical. Patients with mild cognitive impairment who consumed 1 g/day of S. maxima 70% ethanol extract (SM70EE) capsules experienced statistically significant gains in visual learning and working memory according to a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical trial[88]. Another randomized, double-blind, and controlled clinical trial investigated the cognitive and metabolic status of patients with AD who took S. platensis capsules twice daily (500 mg/day).…”