Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40655486›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in nutrition2025

Effects of spirulina supplementation alone or with exercise on cardiometabolic health in overweight and obese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Zhenliang Fu, Shibiao Zhou, Xueyan Gu

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Review
  3. 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

3 authors.

Zhenliang FuSchool of Physical Education, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China.
Shibiao ZhouSchool of Physical Education, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China.
Xueyan GuSchool of Physical Education, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the effects of Spirulina supplementation, alone or combined with exercise, on body composition, lipid profiles, glycemic control, blood pressure, and cardiorespiratory health in overweight and obese adults. It also examines the moderating roles of participant characteristics and intervention protocols. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from their inception to September 2024. Results were pooled using random-effects models and reported as Hedge's g ( Results: Twenty-three studies (1,035 participants) were included. Spirulina supplementation alone significantly reduced body weight ( Conclusion: Spirulina may serve as a valuable adjunctive therapy for overweight and obese individuals with metabolic disorders, reducing cardiovascular risk by improving lipid profiles, blood pressure, and body weight. Combining Spirulina with exercise enhances certain lipid outcomes. However, its overall impact on body composition and glycemic control appears limited. Further research is needed to confirm its long-term efficacy. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024573534, identifier CRD42024573534.

Indexed as

cardiometabolic healthexercisemeta-analysisobesityoverweightspirulina

Identifiers

PMID40655486
PMCPMC12245695

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.