Chlorella and Spirulina — Green Algae or an Expensive Myth?

Aim of the study: Background/Objectives: Chlorella and Spirulina supplementation may reduce the risk of cardiometabolic diseases by improving control of blood cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, weight, and blood pressure (BP). However, the available studies are limited in size and have used different outcomes.

Results: On the other hand, Spirulina intake led to a significant reduction in diastolic BP (-0.42, 95% CI: -0.81 to -0.02, p = 0.04) but did not significantly affect lipid levels, despite a trend toward a reduction in total cholesterol (-0.17, 95% CI: -0.39 to 0.06, p = 0.15). This meta-analysis suggests Spirulina supplementation can be used as an add-on to help control cardiometabolic risk factors, particularly BP. However, the size of this effect is small and its clinical significance is uncertain. Conclusions: Further randomized trials are needed to better assess the potential of these supplements as add-ons for controlling cardiovascular risk factors.

Aim of the study: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) affects over two billion people globally and is often treated with conventional iron supplements, which frequently have poor tolerability and limited bioavailability. This systematic review examines the potential of Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) and Chlorella vulgaris as alternative, bioavailable iron sources.

Results: A. platensis and C. vulgaris are safe and effective microalgal supplements that improve iron status and antioxidant defenses, making them promising alternatives to conventional iron therapy. However, longer-term human clinical trials are needed to validate these findings and determine optimal dosing strategies.

Aim of the study: Objective: Seaweed and microalgae provide antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and bioactive compounds that may improve exercise performance and speed up recovery. However, the evidence remains inconsistent.

Results: Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the main findings, with little evidence of publication bias. Conclusions: Algae-derived supplements—particularly Spirulina and Chlorella—may modestly improve aerobic exercise performance and reduce exercise-induced muscle damage under certain conditions. Effects appear to depend on algae species, dosing strategies, intervention duration, and training type. High-quality, multicenter RCTs that include mechanistic endpoints are needed to clarify optimal use and develop recommendations for specific athletes.

Aim of the study: As global interest in sustainable nutrition grows, algae have emerged as a promising functional food resource. This review analyzes the nutritional value of edible algae, with a particular focus on protein-rich microalgae, and summarizes current clinical evidence on their health benefits.

Results: This review summarizes current studies, which show that algae are a potent, sustainable protein source that can improve dietary quality and promote health. Adding algae-based products to plant-forward diets has the potential to contribute to global nutritional security and long-term public health. However, the available clinical evidence remains varied and is largely based on small, short-term intervention studies, with substantial differences in algae species, processing methods, and doses. Therefore, although the evidence suggests possible functional effects, the strength of the evidence and its generalizability across populations remain limited.