Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40262961›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Effects of Spirulina platensis supplementation on quality of life, severity of disease and serum total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde and zonulin in constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: protocol for a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial from Iran.

Saeede Jafari Nasab, Parisa Hajihashemi, Awat Feizi, Hassan Shahoon, Alireza Ani, Hamidreza Roohafza, Peyman Adibi, Mohammdanhasan Entezari, Mohammad Bagherniya

Abstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Saeede Jafari NasabDepartment of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Parisa HajihashemiIsfahan Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Awat FeiziDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1930-0340
Hassan ShahoonIsfahan Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Alireza AniDepartment of Bioinformatics, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Hamidreza RoohafzaCardiac Rehabilitation Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Peyman AdibiIsfahan Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Mohammdanhasan EntezariDepartment of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4321-4124
Mohammad BagherniyaDepartment of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran bagherniya@yahoo.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5861-6129

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common chronic gut-brain interaction disorders. Nevertheless, there is currently no treatment for IBS. Low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress are contributing factors to the increased perception of abdominal pain and heightened sensitivity of the nervous system in these patients. Spirulina platensis is a rich source of essential nutrients, including amino acids, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, essential fatty acids and fibre. It has been found that Spirulina possesses a variety of therapeutic properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidepressant effects, which may be advantageous in reducing complications of IBS. The aim of present randomised clinical trial (RCT) is to assess the efficacy of Spirulina supplementation on IBS. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study is a 12-week, 1:1 parallel-group, double-blinded, randomised controlled trial. Sixty adult individuals diagnosed with IBS according to the Rome IV criteria will be randomised to consume either Spirulina capsules (500 mg) or a placebo, two times a day. The primary outcomes of this RCT are the changes in the IBS quality of life, severity of IBS symptoms, and gut permeability from baseline to 12 weeks of the intervention. The secondary outcomes are the changes in the serum total antioxidant capacity and serum malondialdehyde from baseline to the end of intervention. If this RCT demonstrates significant results in gut permeability, antioxidant status and reduction in IBS symptoms, it could support the use of Spirulina in managing IBS and could potentially reduce healthcare costs. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study protocol has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran (ID: IR.MUI. RESEARCH: REC.1401.370). Findings will be presented in subsequent publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: IRCT20140208016529N8; Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials; registered on 25 April 2023.

Indexed as

AntioxidantsConstipationDietary SupplementsIrritable Bowel SyndromeMalondialdehydeQuality of LifeSpirulinaAdultDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHaptoglobinsHumansIranMaleMiddle AgedProtein PrecursorsAntioxidantsHaptoglobinsMalondialdehydeProtein PrecursorszonulinGASTROENTEROLOGYIrritable Bowel SyndromeQuality of Life

Identifiers

PMID40262961
PMCPMC12015699

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

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.