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

Abstract

Background: The 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. Methods: According 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. Results: Anemia 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. Conclusions: Spirulina 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.

Keywords

• Spirulina
• Anemia
• Clinical trial
• Ferritin
• Hemoglobin
• Female