A randomized study to establish the effects of spirulina in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients
Open accessAbstract
Spirulina is a microscopic and filamentous cyanobacterium that contains essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidative components. The purpose of this study was to examine effects of spirulina intervention in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes. The subjects were 37 type 2 diabetic patients who visited a diabetic clinic in Seoul and randomly assigned into spirulina (8 g/day) or control group. During the intervention period of 12 weeks, subjects were asked to keep usual diet and prohibited to take any functional foods or dietary supplements. Spirulina supplementation for 12 weeks did not affect anthropometric parameters, however, lowered plasma triglycerides level significantly (p<0.05). Spirulina supplementation also resulted in a significant reduction in plasma malondialdehyde level (p<0.05) and an increase in plasma adiponectin level (p<0.1). The lipid lowering effect of spirulina supplementation was different according to serum lipid levels of the subjects before entering the intervention. The subjects with higher initial triglyceride level showed higher reduction in plasma triglyceride and blood pressure. The subjects with higher initial total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol level showed higher reduction in plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, IL-6, and blood pressure. It seems that spirulina supplementation is more effective in subjects with dyslipidemia. This study provides the evidence for beneficial effects of spirulina supplementation on blood lipid profiles, inflammatory variables, and antioxidant capacity in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes. The results suggest that spirulina is a promising agent as a functional food for diabetes management.
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Daily supplementation with 2 g of Spirulina for 12 weeks significantly improves insulin sensitivity and reduces triglycerides in overweight adults with metabolic syndrome.
“daily supplementation with 2 g of Spirulina for 12 weeks significantly improved insulin sensitivity and reduced triglycerides in overweight adults with metabolic syndrome [75].”
From Microalgae Bioactives for Functional Food Innovation and Health Promotion (2025) · cites this paper as [75]
The Results (Blood profiles during the intervention period; page unavailable) report a significant triglyceride reduction after 12 weeks, but no significant change in KITT, the study’s measure of insulin resistance. The Methods (Subjects and experimental protocol; page unavailable) specify 8 g/day, not 2 g/day, and participants were patients with type 2 diabetes, not a cohort identified as overweight adults with metabolic syndrome. (LLM, conf=0.95)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe antioxidant effect of Spirulina is confirmed by intervention studies.
“Although the antioxidant effect of Spirulina is confirmed by the intervention studies”
From Antioxidant, Immunomodulating, and Microbial‐Modulating Activities of the Sustainable and Ecofriendly <i>Spirulina</i> (2017) · cites this paper as [106]
The effects of Spirulina on cytokines and on lymphocytes' proliferation depend on age, gender, and body weight differences.
“The effects on cytokines and on lymphocytes' proliferation depend on age, gender, and body weight differences.”
From Antioxidant, Immunomodulating, and Microbial‐Modulating Activities of the Sustainable and Ecofriendly <i>Spirulina</i> (2017) · cites this paper as [106]
In overweight subjects and in T2D patients with dyslipidemia, the improvement in the lipid profile was accompanied by a reduction of blood pressure.
“In overweight subjects [13] and in T2D patients with dyslipidemia [106] the improvement in the lipid profile was accompanied by a reduction of blood pressure.”
From Antioxidant, Immunomodulating, and Microbial‐Modulating Activities of the Sustainable and Ecofriendly <i>Spirulina</i> (2017) · cites this paper as [106]
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“In addition, the results of the present study are in accordance with Lee et al (2008) who reported that Spirulina had an impact of on triglyceride level of diabetes mellitus (type 2) patients.”
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- Authors
- Lee, E. H., Park, J.-E., Choi, Y.-J., Huh, K.-B., & Kim, W.-Y.
- Affiliations
- Ewha Womans University (KR)
- 21C Diabetics and Vascular Research Center, 40-19 Nogosan-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul 121-806, Korea.
- Corresponding author
- Kim, Wha-Young
- Venue
- Nutrition Research and Practice
- Published
- 2008
- Volume
- 2
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 295
- ISSN
- 1976-1457 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2788188
- OpenAlex
- W2152409266
- Cited by
- 164
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 2.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Nutrition Research and Practice (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Seaweed-derived Bioactive Compounds
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Natural Antidiabetic Agents Studies
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Keywords
- Spirulina, type 2 diabetes, dietary supplementation, plasma triglycerides, malondialdehyde, adiponectin, dyslipidemia, blood pressure, inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6, antioxidant capacity, functional foods, lipid profile
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