Taking spirulina leads to numerous benefits in patients with diabetes, including controlling fasting blood glucose levels.
La Spirulina, with its high concentration of nutritional properties, it is emerging as an important therapeutic food. One of the health benefits that green / blue algae can bring is its role in check fasting blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes, as confirmed by various studies.
The beneficial effects of spirulina
Spirulina is part of the cyanobacteria, a family of single-celled microbes often referred to as blue-green algae, which grows in both fresh and salt water. Rich in nutrients, only 7 grams of dried spirulina powder contains: proteins, vitamins B1-B2-B3, copper and iron.
A study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food examined 25 subjects with type 2 diabetes who were given 2 grams of spirulina per day for two months. The researchers observed how taking spirulina for two months did a noticeable lowering of fasting blood glucose levels and, initially, also postprandial blood glucose levels (which indicates how much glucose is present in the blood two hours after the end of a meal).
As for the lipids, an appreciable one was observed lowering of triglyceride levels. Spirulina also resulted in a increased HDL cholesterol levels, the "good cholesterol", and one reduction of LDL cholesterol levels, the "bad cholesterol". A 2021 study confirmed most of the findings from previous research, however, it did not observe any significant effect of blue seaweed intake on HbA1c (or glycated hemoglobin) or postprandial blood glucose levels.
These two studies therefore confirm the beneficial effects of taking spirulina in controlling blood glucose levels and improving the lipid profile of subjects with type 2 diabetes.
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Sources: Journal of Medicinal Food e Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders
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