Spirulina review finds no clear pooled effect on children's weight
A small evidence base produced an uncertain weight-change result, with substantial differences between studies and limited detail on other growth measures.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The pooled analysis did not find a statistically significant change in weight with spirulina supplementation in children and adolescents. That result does not establish that spirulina has no effect on growth. Only a small part of the eligible evidence contributed to the pooled estimate, and the studies differed substantially in their findings and delivery.
The abstract does not name comparison conditions, summarize intervention durations or give participant totals. The pooled weight estimate was imprecise, with a confidence interval spanning zero, and differences between studies limit a single overall conclusion.
A narrow pooled result
Of the 5 eligible studies, 2 contributed to the meta-analysis. Although the review asked about growth broadly, the numerical pooled result reported in the abstract concerns weight change, leaving other growth outcomes less clearly described.
Studies differed substantially
The authors linked differences between studies to variation in supplement amounts, duration and adherence. Those differences complicate interpretation: the pooled result does not identify a consistent response across the programs or the children studied.
The original publication
Assessing the impact of Spirulina supplementation on the growth of children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Mishra BK, Kshatri JS, Kulkarni B et al.
Front Nutr · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41919083
- Record checked
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