Spirulina supplementation: A double-blind, randomized, comparative study in young anemic Indian women

Lucia C Leal-Esteban,Renata Campos Nogueira,Mariana Veauvy,Benedict Mascarenhas,Mandar Mhatre,Sasikumar Menon,Bertrand Graz,Denis Von Der Weid

doi:10.1016/j.cegh.2021.100884

Abstract

BackgroundThe effect of spirulina (Arthrospira platensis), on haemoglobin and serum ferritine was tested in young women aged between 18 and 21 years and presenting an iron-deficiency anemia. MethodsAccording to the allocation group, each participant daily consumed one placebo snack bar or one snack bar supplemented with 3 g of spirulina. At baseline, day 45, 60, and 90 after the first bar was consumed a complete blood count, serum ferritin, pregnancy test, and physical examination were performed. ResultsAnemia prevalence was found to be 33.7% among the age range tested in Mumbai. In total, 181 women were screened, 61 of them were randomized and allocated into the two groups and finally 47 young women completed the study. ConclusionsSpirulina or placebo snack bars were well tolerated. However, we did not observe significant changes in serum ferritin and hemoglobin in both groups at the end of the study.

Highlights

Anemia, most commonly diagnosed by a low hemoglobin level in the blood, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality
Screening among non-pregnant women in the 15–45 years age group in northeastern states of India reported the incidence of anemia between 36 and 76% depending on the region
Based on the available data, we investigated if daily consumption of spirulina (3 g) added into a snack bar known by the Indian population as “Chikki”, would improve hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels in

Summary

Introduction

Most commonly diagnosed by a low hemoglobin level in the blood, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality It affects one-third of the world’s population the groups most vulnerable to anemia are children under 5 years old and women in reproductive age from low-income countries.[1,2] Screening among non-pregnant women in the 15–45 years age group in northeastern states of India reported the incidence of anemia between 36 and 76% depending on the region. In this population, anemia is in most cases caused by nutrition deficiencies.[3]. We did not observe significant changes in serum ferritin and hemoglobin in both groups at the end of the study

Methods

Results

Conclusion