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Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders

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01-06-2021 | Diabetes | Review article

The effect of spirulina on type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: Elaheh Hatami, Samira-Sadat Ghalishourani, Ameneh Najafgholizadeh, Makan Pourmasoumi, Amir Hadi, Cain C. T. Clark, Mostafa Assaroudi, Ammar Salehi-sahlabadi, Farahnaz Joukar, Fariborz Mansour-Ghanaei

Published in: Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of spirulina on lipid profiles and glycemic related markers in type 2 diabetes patients.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to August 2020. All clinical trials which investigated the effect of spirulina supplementation on glycemic related markers and lipid profile among type 2 diabetes patients were included. Random effects modeling was utilized for pooling analysis to compensate for the between-study heterogeneity.

Results

Eight studies (9 arms) were included in the meta-analysis. We found a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose (−17.88 mg/dl; 95% CI: −26.99, −8.78; I²: 25%), triglyceride (−30.99 mg/dl; 95% CI: −45.20, −16.77; I²: 50%), total-cholesterol (−18.47 mg/dl; 95% CI: −33.54, −3.39; I²: 73%), LDL-C (−20.04 mg/dl; 95% CI: −34.06, −6.02; I²: 75%), VLDL (−6.96 mg/dl; 95% CI: −9.71, −4.22; I²: 33%), in addition to a significant increase in HDL-C (−6.96 mg/dl; 95% CI: −9.71, −4.22; I²: 33%), after spirulina administration. No significant effect was observed on HbA1C or post prandial blood sugar following spirulina consumption.

Conclusion

The present study suggests that spirulina supplementation can elicit beneficial effects on fasting blood glucose and blood lipid profiles.

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Title: The effect of spirulina on type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Elaheh Hatami
Samira-Sadat Ghalishourani
Ameneh Najafgholizadeh
Makan Pourmasoumi
Amir Hadi
Cain C. T. Clark
Mostafa Assaroudi
Ammar Salehi-sahlabadi
Farahnaz Joukar
Fariborz Mansour-Ghanaei
Publication date: 01-06-2021
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Keywords: Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes
Published in: Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 2251-6581
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-021-00760-z

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