Evidence supporting the use of: Spirulina
For the health condition: Colitis

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Spirulina, a type of blue-green algae, has garnered attention for its potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, including possible benefits for colitis—a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The main scientific rationale for using spirulina in colitis stems from preclinical studies. Several animal studies have demonstrated that spirulina supplementation can reduce colonic inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue damage in chemically-induced models of colitis. For instance, research published in peer-reviewed journals has shown that spirulina extracts can decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as TNF-α and IL-6) and increase antioxidant enzyme activity in the colon, thereby mitigating the severity of colitis in rodents.

However, these findings are primarily limited to animal models and in vitro studies. Human clinical trials directly evaluating spirulina’s efficacy in colitis patients are scarce or lacking. While spirulina is known for its general health benefits and safety profile, its specific use for colitis is not based on a long-standing traditional practice, but rather on emerging scientific interest. The limited but promising evidence suggests it may have adjunctive potential, particularly due to its ability to modulate immune responses and oxidative stress.

In summary, while preliminary scientific evidence supports the potential utility of spirulina in managing colitis, more robust, well-designed human studies are needed before it can be recommended as a standard treatment. The current evidence base is best characterized as “emerging but unproven.”

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akkermansia muciniphila
algal oil
aloe vera
anthocyanins
apple
astaxanthin
bacillus clausii
bacillus coagulans
bacillus subtilis
barberry
beta caryophyllene
bifidobacterium bifidum
bifidobacterium breve
bifidobacterium infantis
bifidobacterium lactis
bifidobacterium longum
bilberry
bio ecolian (proprietary)
blueberry
bromelain
butyrate triglyceride
cat's claw
Chinese salvia root
chlorella
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cowage seed
turmeric
curcumin
fiber blend (proprietary)
flavonols
garlic bulb
ginger
green tea
hemp oil
immunoglobin G
inulin
isomalto-oligosaccharide
l-glutamine
lactobacillus acidophilus
lactobacillus brevis
lactobacillus bulgaricus
lactobacillus casei
lactobacillus fermentum
lactobacillus gasseri
lactobacillus lactis
lactobacillus paracasei
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactobacillus reuteri
lactobacillus rhamnosus
lactobacillus salivarius
lactococcus lactis
lactoferrin
licorice root
n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC)
plantain
pomegranate
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
butyric acid
quercetin
resveratrol
saccharomyces boulardii
slippery elm bark
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
spirulina
streptococcus thermophilus
tributyrin
triphala
zinc
xanthium (cockleburs)
blackboard tree
picrorhiza kurroa
swertia
buckthorn
anemarrhena asphodeloides
algae
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apigenin
Anamu
Alchornea
Andrographolide
Asteracea
Acemannan
Amor seco
Astragalin
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Boswellic Acid
Bael
Basidiomycota
Boswellia
Baccharoides anthelmintica
Bifidobacterium animalis
Black Nightshade
Bacteria
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Curcuminoid
Curcumen
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Colocynth
Diterpenes
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