Effects of a Spirulina -Based Dietary Supplement on Cytokine Production from Allergic Rhinitis Patients
Abstract
Spirulina represents a blue-green alga that is widely produced and commercialized as a dietary supplement for modulating immune functions, as well as ameliorating a variety of diseases. We have previously shown that the in vitro culture of Spirulina with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) modulated the production of cytokines. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of a Spirulina-based dietary supplement (Earthrise Nutritionals, Inc., Irvine, CA) on patients with allergic rhinitis by assessing the production of cytokines [interleukin (IL)-4, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and IL-2] critical in regulating immunoglobulin E-mediated allergy. In a randomized double-blinded crossover study versus placebo, allergic individuals were fed daily with either placebo or Spirulina, at 1,000 mg or 2,000 mg, for 12 weeks. PBMCs isolated before and after the Spirulina feeding were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) prior to determining the levels of cytokine from cell culture supernatants. Although Spirulina seemed to be ineffective at modulating the secretion of Th1 cytokines (IFN-gamma and IL-2), we discovered that Spirulina, administered at 2,000 mg/day, significantly reduced IL-4 levels by 32% from PHA-stimulated cells. These results indicate that Spirulina can modulate the Th profile in patients with allergic rhinitis by suppressing the differentiation of Th2 cells mediated, in part, by inhibiting the production of IL-4. To our knowledge, this is the first human feeding study that demonstrates the protective effects of Spirulina towards allergic rhinitis.
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Patients with allergic rhinitis taking Arthrospira platensis powder for around 12 weeks showed reduced levels of IL-4 by 32%, which was probably due to the protective effect of microalgae toward allergic rhinitis.
“Patients with allergic rhinitis taking Arthrospira platensis powder for around 12 weeks showed reduced levels of IL-4 by 32%, which was probably due to the protective effect of microalgae toward allergic rhinitis [84].”
From Application of Arthrospira platensis for Medicinal Purposes and the Food Industry: A Review of the Literature (2023) · cites this paper as [84]
Eating BGA boosts immunity and guards against inflammatory conditions including colitis, arthritis, and allergic rhinitis in animals and people.
“Studies have demonstrated that BGA consumption promotes immunity and protects against inflammatory diseases such as colitis, arthritis, and allergic rhinitis in animals and humans [39–42].”
From Edible blue-green algae reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting NF-κB pathway in macrophages and splenocytes (2013) · cites this paper as [40]
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- Authors
- Mao, T. K., Water, J. V. D., & Gershwin, M. E.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Davis (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Medicinal Food
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2005-03
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 27-30
- ISSN
- 1096-620X (ISSN-L)
- 1557-7600
- OpenAlex
- W1991764806
- Cited by
- 185
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 4.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Medicinal Food (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Asthma and respiratory diseases
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Research
- Keywords
- Spirulina, dietary supplements, allergic rhinitis, cytokine production, IL-4, interferon-gamma, interleukin-2, Th2 cells, Th1/Th2 balance, immunoglobulin E-mediated allergy, phytohemagglutinin, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, immunomodulation
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Bacterial Proteins, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Interferon-gamma, Interleukin-2, Leukocytes, Mononuclear, Male, Middle Aged, Phytohemagglutinins, Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial, Interleukin-4, Cytokines, Treatment Outcome, Cross-Over Studies, Dietary Supplements, Spirulina
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