Roll Call

Blue-Green Algae — answers to cyanobacteria supplement (e.g., spirulina or Aphanizomenon flos-aquae)

Plant

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A broad term for various photosynthetic cyanobacteria, most commonly spirulina, harvested and dried into powder or tablet form as a nutritional supplement.

Why it’s used

Taken as a source of protein, iron, and other nutrients, and sometimes marketed for general wellness or immune support.

What the evidence says

Small human studies have examined blue-green algae products for effects on markers like blood lipids or antioxidant status, with inconsistent results. There is no NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheet dedicated to blue-green algae, and evidence for specific health outcomes remains limited.

Where we looked

There was no paper to cite here, so this is the search instead — run it yourself and see what we saw.

  • PubMed: 6 records · searched August 2026"Blue-Green Algae"[Title/Abstract] AND ("dietary supplements"[MeSH] OR supplementation[Title/Abstract] OR supplement[Title/Abstract] OR supplements[Title/Abstract] OR "oral administration"[Title/Abstract]) AND (randomized controlled trial[pt] OR clinical trial[pt] OR meta-analysis[pt] OR systematic review[pt]) AND humans[MeSH]
  • PubMed: 1409 records · searched August 2026"Blue-Green Algae"[Title/Abstract]

This says what this database holds under these terms. It is not a finding that no research exists.

Context

Study doses and forms vary widely across the different organisms grouped under this name, complicating direct comparison.

Insufficient dataToo little has been studied to say either way.

Educational information, not medical or safety advice. Consult a professional for allergies or medical concerns.