Abstract
- Objective
Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is a cyanobacterium clinically documented for its potent anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. However, the therapeutic impact of high-dose Spirulina supplementation in hospitalized adult patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remained to be fully elucidated. This trial aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety profile of high-dose Spirulina platensis as an adjunctive treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Study Design
A randomized, controlled, open-label clinical trial was conducted involving 189 hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either an experimental group receiving 15.2 grams daily of Spirulina supplementation alongside standard hospital care (comprising 44 non-intensive care unit [non-ICU] and 47 ICU patients) or a control group receiving standard treatment alone (comprising 46 non-ICU and 52 ICU patients). The active intervention period spanned six days, with systematic monitoring of immune mediators on days 1, 3, 5, and 7. The primary clinical outcome was defined as mortality or hospital discharge within a seven-day window, while overall hospital discharge and cumulative mortality served as secondary outcomes.
- Results
Within the initial seven-day period, zero deaths occurred in the Spirulina supplementation group, whereas 15 deaths (15.3%) were recorded in the control cohort. Furthermore, within this seven-day timeframe, a significantly greater proportion of non-ICU patients in the Spirulina group achieved hospital discharge (97.7%) compared to the control group (39.1%) (hazard ratio [HR], 6.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.50 to 12.17). Overall cumulative mortality was markedly higher in the control group (8.7% for non-ICU, 28.8% for ICU) than in the Spirulina intervention group (non-ICU HR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.97; ICU HR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.48). Immunologically, non-ICU patients receiving Spirulina exhibited progressive, significant reductions in circulating levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-10, and interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10) over the course of the intervention. Similarly, ICU patients treated with Spirulina demonstrated significant decreases in macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1-alpha) and IL-6 levels. Conversely, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels increased significantly in the intervention arm across both ICU and non-ICU subgroups as treatment progressed. Notably, no adverse side effects attributable to the Spirulina supplement were observed throughout the trial.
- Conclusion
High-dose Spirulina supplementation administered alongside standard COVID-19 treatment significantly accelerates clinical recovery, improves discharge rates, and remarkably reduces mortality among hospitalized patients.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11036872/