Spirulina
Other ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Nutrient-dense blue-green algae with high protein and antioxidant content.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.
This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Spirulina is an other most often used for antioxidant, protein source, allergy relief. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate. A typical adult dose is 3-10 g daily, commonly taken as organic spirulina powder or tablets. This profile indexes 19 sources.
The bottom line
Evidence rating moderate. Most-documented uses: antioxidant, protein source, allergy relief. 19 sources indexed (2005–2025), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Phycocyanin provides potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting NADPH oxidase and scavenging peroxyl radicals. Rich in complete protein, B vitamins, and iron.4,7
Dosing & protocol.
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Organic Spirulina Powder / Tablets.
Assumes 3-10 g/day. Vendor basis: NOW/iHerb, Vitacost, BulkSupplements powder, and Amazon marketplace; tablets and certified organic sources cost more than powder. Updated 2026-05-28.
The same dose, as food.
How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.
Spirulina is itself the food-like algae source; choose contaminant-tested products.
Full safety detail.
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Meta-analyses & systematic reviews
13- 1Impact of Spirulina Supplementation on Obesity, Hypertension, Hyperglycemia, and Hyperlipidemia: A Systematic ReviewPMIDFirdaus M, Priambodo AF · Scientifica · 2025
Firdaus M, Priambodo AF. Impact of Spirulina Supplementation on Obesity, Hypertension, Hyperglycemia, and Hyperlipidemia: A Systematic Review. Scientifica. 2025
- 2Potential benefits of microalgae intake against metabolic diseases: beyond spirulina-a systematic review of animal studiesPMIDTejero Pérez A, Kapravelou G, Porres Foulquie JM et al. · Nutrition reviews · 2024
Tejero Pérez A, Kapravelou G, Porres Foulquie JM et al.. Potential benefits of microalgae intake against metabolic diseases: beyond spirulina-a systematic review of animal studies. Nutrition reviews. 2024
- 3The effect of Spirulina supplementation on lipid profile: GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of data from randomized controlled trialsPMIDHamedifard Z et al. · Pharmacol Res · 2023
Spirulina significantly reduced LDL-C, TC, and TG while increasing HDL-C across 20 studies with 1,076 participants.
- 4Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of spirulina in exercise and sport: A systematic reviewPMIDCalella P, Cerullo G, Di Dio M et al. · Frontiers in nutrition · 2022
Calella P, Cerullo G, Di Dio M et al.. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of spirulina in exercise and sport: A systematic review. Frontiers in nutrition. 2022
- 5Spirulina supplementation as an adjuvant therapy in enhancement of antioxidant capacity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trialsPMIDMoradi S et al. · Food Funct · 2021
Spirulina administration showed marginally significant increases in TAC and SOD activity.
- 6Effect of Spirulina Supplementation on Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled TrialsPMIDMachowiec P, Ręka G, Maksymowicz M, Piecewicz-Szczęsna H, Smoleń A · Nutrients · 2021
Spirulina supplementation significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in randomized controlled trials, suggesting potential as an antihypertensive adjunct.
- 7Spirulina supplementation and oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory biomarkers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trialsPMIDMohiti S, Zarezadeh M, Naeini F et al. · Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology & Physiology · 2021
Spirulina supplementation significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and improved total antioxidant capacity while reducing pro-inflammatory biomarkers across clinical trials.
- 8Spirulina supplementation and anthropometric indices: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trialsPMIDZarezadeh M, Faghfouri AH, Radkhah N et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR · 2021
Zarezadeh M, Faghfouri AH, Radkhah N et al.. Spirulina supplementation and anthropometric indices: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials. Phytotherapy research : PTR. 2021
- 9The effects of spirulina on glycemic control and serum lipoproteins in patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsPMIDHamedifard Z, Milajerdi A, Reiner Ž et al. · Phytotherapy Research · 2019
Spirulina supplementation significantly improved fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol in patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders.
- 10Effects of Spirulina supplementation on obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trialsPMIDMoradi S, Ziaei R, Foshati S et al. · Complementary therapies in medicine · 2019
Moradi S, Ziaei R, Foshati S et al.. Effects of Spirulina supplementation on obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Complementary therapies in medicine. 2019
- 11A systematic review of spirulina supplementation on metabolic parameters in type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsSource linkedPMIDSerban MC, Sahebkar A, Dragan S et al. · Nutr Rev · 2016
- 12A systematic review of the effects of spirulina supplementation on lipid profilesSource linkedPMIDSerban MC, Sahebkar A, Dragan S et al. · Clin Nutr · 2016
- 13Effect of spirulina on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysisSource linkedPMIDTorres-Duran PV, Ferreira-Hermosillo A, Juarez-Oropeza MA · J Nutr Metab · 2012
Randomized controlled trials
2- 14The effects of spirulina on allergic rhinitisPMIDCingi C et al. · Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol · 2008
Spirulina consumption significantly improved symptoms of allergic rhinitis including nasal discharge, sneezing, congestion, and itching compared with placebo.
- 15Effects of a Spirulina-based dietary supplement on cytokine production from allergic rhinitis patientsPMIDMao TK et al. · J Med Food · 2005
Spirulina at 2,000 mg/day significantly reduced IL-4 levels by 32%, modulating the Th1/Th2 profile by suppressing Th2 cell differentiation.
Reviews & position papers
2- 16Antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory effects of Spirulina in disease conditions: a systematic reviewPMIDCalella P et al. · Front Nutr · 2022
Eighteen studies (2001-2020) generally support benefits of spirulina supplementation in both transmittable and non-transmittable diseases.
- 17The antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities of Spirulina: an overviewPMIDWu Q et al. · Arch Toxicol · 2016
Spirulina activates cellular antioxidant enzymes, inhibits lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, scavenges free radicals, and increases SOD and catalase activity.
Reference material
2- 18Chaouachi M, Vincent S, Groussard C. A Review of the Health-Promoting Properties of Spirulina with a Focus on athletes' Performance and Recovery. Journal of dietary supplements. 2024Source linkedPMID
- 19Maddiboyina B, Vanamamalai HK, Roy H et al.. Food and drug industry applications of microalgae Spirulina platensis: A review. Journal of basic microbiology. 2023Source linkedPMID
Common questions.
Quick answers about Spirulina, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Spirulina?
Nutrient-dense blue-green algae with high protein and antioxidant content.
What is Spirulina used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Spirulina include: Antioxidant; Protein source; Allergy relief; Detoxification. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate.
What is a typical dose of Spirulina?
A typical adult dose of Spirulina is 3-10 g daily. The commonly recommended form is Organic spirulina powder or tablets. These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Spirulina?
Reported side effects include gi upset initially, headache (detox), allergic reactions (rare). This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Spirulina?
NutriStack rates this as Moderate, meaning several aligned RCTs or one large RCT plus supporting reviews. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Spirulina in NutriStack.
Add it to your stack, see how it interacts with everything else you take, and get a Stack Score that updates the moment it does.