Trial reportNutrition journal2025
Effects of spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis supplementation on inflammation, physical and mental quality of life, and anthropometric measures in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS): a triple-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Trial report in Nutrition journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Therapeutic potential of spirulina and its bioactive compound phycocyanin in neuropsychiatric disorders.Molecular biology reports · 2026Review
- The Efficacy of Spirulina on Cognitive Function, Psychological and Clinical Indicators in Men Patients Under Methadone Therapy (a Randomized Trial).Food science & nutrition · 2026Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neuroinflammatory disorder marked by demyelination and axonal damage, where oxidative stress and cytokine-mediated inflammation are key pathological factors. Spirulina, a microalga rich in phycocyanin, phenolic compounds, and omega-3 fatty acids, exhibits potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, potentially targeting these pathways. This study investigated spirulina's impact on inflammatory biomarkers and quality of life in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients.
methodsA triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial randomized 80 RRMS patients (EDSS 0-6) to receive 1 g/day spirulina (n = 40) or placebo (n = 40) for 12 weeks. Sixteen participants (20%) withdrew. Primary analysis followed the intention-to-treat (ITT) principle (N = 80) using baseline-observation-carried-forward for missing data. Serum IL-1β and IL-6 (primary outcomes) were measured by ELISA. Quality of life (MSQoL-54) and anthropometric measures were secondary outcomes.
resultsA linear mixed-effects model revealed that spirulina supplementation significantly reduced serum IL-1β (Estimate = - 1.07 ± 0.14, p < 0.001) and IL-6 levels (Estimate = - 2.66 ± 0.26, p < 0.001) compared to placebo. Significant improvements were also observed in health perception (Estimate = - 0.49 ± 0.12, p < 0.001), physical function (-0.37 ± 0.11, p < 0.001), role limitation-physical (-0.36 ± 0.16, p = 0.030), energy (-0.64 ± 0.15, p < 0.001), and sexual function (-1.31 ± 0.29, p < 0.001). No significant effects were found for emotional wellbeing, health distress, social function, cognitive function, sexual satisfaction, overall quality of life, or total mental health. Anthropometric analysis showed a significant weight reduction in the spirulina group versus placebo (-2.85 ± 1.13 kg, p = 0.015), while BMI reduction was borderline significant (-0.78 ± 0.41, p = 0.060). No significant changes were observed in waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, energy intake, or physical activity.
conclusionSpirulina supplementation significantly reduced pro-inflammatory markers and improved multiple physical and cognitive quality of life domains in patients with RRMS. Spirulina shows promise as a safe adjunct therapy in MS management, but larger trials with longer follow-up are warranted to confirm these findings and explore its clinical utility alongside DMTs.
trial registrationThe trial is registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (ID IRCT2024124060794N1), with registration completed on 4 February 2024. Informed consent will be secured from each participant or their legal guardian.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.