“Blue-Green Algae?”Here!cyanobacteria supplement (e.g., spirulina or Aphanizomenon flos-aquae)
Hasn’t appeared in a scanned product yet.
As a supplement
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Roll Call does not check drug interactions or assess personal safety.
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: 285 records · searched September 2026
"Blue-Green Algae"[Title/Abstract] AND (review[pt] OR "safety assessment"[Title/Abstract] OR "risk assessment"[Title/Abstract] OR toxicology[Title/Abstract] OR toxicity[Title/Abstract] OR characterization[Title/Abstract] OR characterisation[Title/Abstract]) - PubMed: 6 records · searched September 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: 1411 records · searched September 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.
Rumors
Spirulina (blue-green algae) supplements boost and support the immune system.
We haven’t found evidence strong enough to support this or rule it out.
What was measured is not yet noted.
Who’s saying this
- Nutrex Hawaii — a brand: sells spirulina and astaxanthin supplements; parent company Cyanotech
How we know who this is
- “Nutrex Hawaii was founded in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in 1990 by Dr. Gerald Cysewski, a world-renowned expert in microalgae and carotenoids.” (their page)
- “All of our microalgae comes from our parent company Cyanotech’s 90-acre farm located on the pristine Kona Coast on Hawaii Island.” (their page)
- Nutrex Hawaii — a brand: sells spirulina and astaxanthin supplements; parent company Cyanotech
Spirulina detoxifies the body and removes heavy metals such as arsenic.
We haven’t found evidence strong enough to support this or rule it out.
What was measured is not yet noted.
Who’s saying this
- Evelytics — a publisher: evidence-based longevity and wellness content; partners with clinicians, researchers and innovators
How we know who this is
- “Evelytics is where science-backed longevity research meets real life.” (their page)
- “Evelytics partners with clinicians, researchers, and innovators who share our mission: evidence-based longevity and health for an audtience that values data over hype.” (their page)
- Evelytics — a publisher: evidence-based longevity and wellness content; partners with clinicians, researchers and innovators
Blue-green algae can worsen autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.
Not gradedhealth and safety evidence
Sources cited — no verdict reached.
What was measured is not yet noted.
- Spirulina ingestion and autoimmune disease onset or flare (Peer-reviewed) · Funding not checked · No conflicts declared
Who’s saying this
- WebMD — a publisher: health information publisher; an Internet Brands company
How we know who this is
- “As a leader in digital health publishing for more than 25 years, WebMD strives to maintain the most comprehensive and reliable source of health and medical information on the internet.” (their page)
- “© 2005 - 2026 WebMD LLC, an Internet Brands company.” (their page)
Spirulina fights allergies and reduces inflammation.
Supports — suggestivehealth and safety evidence
Studied in: patients with allergic rhinitis.
Measured as an outcome.
- The effects of spirulina on allergic rhinitis (Peer-reviewed) · Funding not checked
Who’s saying this
- Supplements In Review — a publisher: supplement reviews; earns affiliate commissions on purchases
How we know who this is
- “Supplements In Review is a team of natural products industry insiders on a mission: “To help you avoid supplement scams, failures and dangers while steering you towards formulas that were made to work.”” (their page)
- “We earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through links on this website.” (their page)
Blue-green algae supplements can be contaminated with microcystin toxins that damage the liver.
Supports — establishedhealth and safety evidence
Measured as a biomarker.
- A Systematic Literature Review for Evidence of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae Toxigenicity in Recreational Waters and Toxicity of Dietary Supplements: 2000–2017 (Peer-reviewed) · Funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (government) · No conflicts declared
- Assessing potential health risks from microcystin toxins in blue-green algae dietary supplements (Peer-reviewed) · Funding not checked
Who’s saying this
- WebMD — a publisher: health information publisher; an Internet Brands company
How we know who this is
- “As a leader in digital health publishing for more than 25 years, WebMD strives to maintain the most comprehensive and reliable source of health and medical information on the internet.” (their page)
- “© 2005 - 2026 WebMD LLC, an Internet Brands company.” (their page)