Dose Spirulina benefits our brain?  

Spirulina is a more attractive name for edible cyanogreen algae biomass. It forms a green, sticky film on the surface of stagnant water, commonly known as pond scum. Spirulina is usually home to two kinds of algae: Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima. Why do you eat it? Spirulina is an excellent source of high-efficiency antioxidants and anti-inflammatory chemicals that can help your brain throughout its life cycle.

A recent study (Nutritional Neuroscience 2018, 21:59) examined whether severe neonatal infections could be treated by feeding breast-feeding mothers a diet rich in spirulina. Even if primary infections are adequately treated, severe infections and associated brain inflammation can lead to long-term changes in the developing brain due to oxidative stress. A spirulina-rich diet for lactating mothers can reduce brain inflammation levels and provide antioxidant defense for developing newborn brains. These studies are interesting because they clearly show that adding specific plant-based chemicals to the diet of lactating mothers can counteract the ongoing disease mechanisms in children by reducing the long-term negative effects on the brain and body antioxidant system caused by systemic inflammation in newborns.

At the other end of life, brain inflammation, which normally develops with aging, is still unclear and often difficult to treat. Encephalitis associated with normal aging can be triggered by many factors, including obesity, poor diet, brain injury, diabetes or mutant proteins. Long-term exposure of neurons to inflammation impairs normal cognitive function and prevents the brain from creating new memories. In addition, some neurons are particularly vulnerable to brain inflammation and oxidative stress. The most vulnerable group of neurons produces the neurotransmitter dopamine; the death of these dopamine neurons is associated with Parkinson's disease. Therefore, there is considerable interest in finding effective ways to reduce brain inflammation to prevent or slow the onset of Parkinson's disease symptoms. A recent study investigated the beneficial effects of a diet rich in Spirulina on animal models of Parkinson's disease. The results showed that Spirulina supplement could prevent the death of dopamine neurons. Human clinical trials are now needed to confirm this report.

In view of the wide range of health problems caused by obesity attributed to inflammation, another recent study (Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci, 2017, 21:2473) examined the potential protective effects of Spirulina on obese humans. Fifty subjects received 2 grams of Spirulina platensis or placebo daily for three months. Compared with placebo-treated individuals, Spirulina supplements significantly reduced LDL cholesterol and interleukin-6 (proinflammatory protein) concentrations and significantly improved total antioxidant status.


Interventional studies of natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory drugs through diet are becoming attractive alternatives to standard therapies. Unfortunately, there are few clinical trials using Spirulina supplements to treat human neurological diseases. Although we know nothing about the specific therapeutic effects of these algae, these preliminary studies strongly suggest that dietary supplements for spirulina may be very beneficial.