Trial reportBMC complementary and alternative medicine2017
The effects of Spirulina Platensis on anthropometric indices, appetite, lipid profile and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in obese individuals: a randomized double blinded placebo controlled trial.
Trial report in BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 47 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
47 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 123 citations in OpenAlex.
- Assessing the impact of Spirulina supplementation on the growth of children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Pooled it
- The Role ofNutrients · 2025Pooled it
- Effects of spirulina supplementation alone or with exercise on cardiometabolic health in overweight and obese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Pooled it
- Quantifying the Effect of Supplementation with Algae and Its Extracts on Glycolipid Metabolism: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Nutrients · 2020Pooled it
- Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Weight Loss: A Narrative Review.Journal of evidence-based integrative medicinePooled it
- Postoperative Spirulina Platensis Supplementation Optimizes Body Composition Improvement without Adverse Effects in Women Undergoing Gastric Bypass: a Pilot Study Randomized and Placebo-Controlled.Obesity surgery · 2026Trial
- Trial
- Spirulina supplementation and circuit resistance training (CRT) reduce serum asprosin and appetite and improve energy balance in men with obesity and overweight.Hormones (Athens, Greece) · 2025Trial
- Effects of Spirulina supplementation in patients with ulcerative colitis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2024Trial
- Antioxidant Efficacy of aMarine drugs · 2022Trial
- Effects of spirulina and wakame consumption on intestinal cholesterol absorption and serum lipid concentrations in non-hypercholesterolemic adult men and women.European journal of nutrition · 2020Trial
- Trial
- Navigating the potential of algal peptides: health effects, market applications, and scientific challenges.Annals of medicine · 2026Review
- Innovative formulation of microencapsulated "spirubiotic sachets" as a synbiotic treatment for metabolic syndrome patients.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Effect ofMedical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Effects of spirulina supplementation on body composition in adults: a GRADE-assessed and dose-response meta-analysis of RCTs.Nutrition & metabolism · 2025Review
- Effects of Spirulina Supplementation on C-Reactive Protein (CRP): A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis.Food science & nutrition · 2025Review
- Article
- Spirulina-fortified salad dressing on body composition and anthropometric indices in hypertensive patients: A tipple-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.Caspian journal of internal medicine · 2025Article
- Impact ofScientifica · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn recent years, a great attention has been focused on Spirulina platensis as a source of potential valuable nutrients for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. The objectives of the current study were to determine the effects of Spirulina platensis on anthropometric parameters, serum lipids, appetite and serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in obese individuals.
methodsIn the current study sixty four obese individuals aged 20-50 years were enrolled and randomly allocated into two groups of intervention and placebo. Intervention group (n = 29) received each 500 mg of the Spirulina platensis a twice-daily dosage while the control group (n = 27) received two pills daily starch for 12 weeks. Anthropometric parameters and serum VEGF and lipid profile were measured in fasting blood samples at the beginning and end of the study period. Dietary intakes were assessed by a 24-h recall method and appetite was measured using standard visual analogue scale (VAS).
resultsBody weight and body mass index (BMI) were decreased in intervention and placebo treated groups although the mean reduction in Spirulina platensis-treated group was significantly higher (P < 0.05). Serum total cholesterol (TC) significantly reduced in intervention group (P < 0.05). Also, treatment with Spirulina platensis significantly reduced appetite (P = 0.008). Mean serum VEGF, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and triglycerides did not change significantly after intervention. Serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentrations (HDL-c) significantly increased in both groups while no difference in mean difference of this change has been observed.
conclusionSpirulina supplementation at a dose of 1 g/d for 12 weeks is effective in modulating body weight and appetite and partly modifies serum lipids. This can further confirm the efficacy of this herbal supplement in control and prevention of obesity and obesity- related disorders.
trial registrationIranian registry of clinical trials (IRCT registration number: IRCT2015071219082N7 ; Date registered: September 12, 2015).
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.