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Volume 21, Issue 2
  • ISSN: 1573-398X
  • E-ISSN: 1875-6387

Abstract

Background

Spirulina algae are widely used in food, cosmetic, and dietary applications, and laboratory and clinical studies have reported their antiviral and immune-enhancing properties.

Aim

We aimed to evaluate the prescription of spirulina, a safe food supplement with antiviral properties, and N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of hospitalized patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Materials and Methods

This study was conducted as a multicenter, randomized, single-masked, open-label phase II clinical trial on 66 patients with COVID-19. Patients were randomly assigned to two intervention groups and one control group. The intervention groups were defined as follows: one group received spirulina algae (23 people), and the other group received N-acetylcysteine plus spirulina algae (21 people). In the control group (22 people), the patients only received the national standard treatment for COVID-19. The intervention groups were prescribed 80 mg/kg of spirulina green algae daily.

Results

The duration of hospitalization ( = 0.874), Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission ( = 0.320), and mortality ( = 0.320) of patients between the three groups did not show any significant difference. Side effects, including headache ( = 0.022) and nausea ( = 0.039), were significantly less common in the control group. No statistically significant difference was observed regarding the frequency of symptoms after discharge in the three-month follow-up ( = 0.420).

Conclusion

Our study showed that administering spirulina with or without N-acetylcysteine did not affect the length of hospitalization, ICU admission, mortality, and the frequency of symptoms or long COVID.

Clinical Trial Registration Number

IRCT20220509054793N1.

© 2025 Bentham Science Publishers
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2024-07-08
2025-01-22

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/content/journals/crmr/10.2174/011573398X304275240626050005
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Therapeutic Efficacy of Spirulina Algae and N-Acetylcysteine in COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients: A Randomized Phase II Clinical Trial
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews 21, 179 (2025); https://doi.org/10.2174/011573398X304275240626050005
/content/journals/crmr/10.2174/011573398X304275240626050005
/content/journals/crmr/10.2174/011573398X304275240626050005
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  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): Algae; antioxidants; COVID-19; inflammation; N-acetyl cysteine; spirulina

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