Spirulina Microalgae and Brain Health: A Scoping Review of Experimental and Clinical Evidence

Abstract

Spirulina microalgae contain a plethora of nutrient and non-nutrient molecules providing brain health benefits. Numerous in vivo evidence has provided support for the brain health potential of spirulina, highlighting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective mechanisms. Preliminary clinical studies have also suggested that spirulina can help to reduce mental fatigue, protect the vascular wall of brain vessels from endothelial damage and regulate internal pressure, thus contributing to the prevention and/or mitigating of cerebrovascular conditions. Furthermore, the use of spirulina in malnourished children appears to ameliorate motor, language, and cognitive skills, suggesting a reinforcing role in developmental mechanisms. Evidence of the central effect of spirulina on appetite regulation has also been shown. This review aims to understand the applicative potential of spirulina microalgae in the prevention and mitigation of brain disorders, highlighting the nutritional value of this "superfood", and providing the current knowledge on relevant molecular mechanisms in the brain associated with its dietary introduction.

Keywords: BDNF; brain health; nutraceuticals; seaweeds; spirulina.

Figure 1

Putative absorption, metabolism, and distribution in the CNS of spirulina nutrients and phyto-derivatives. Spirulina microalgae contain a plethora of nutrient molecules and phyto-derivatives which, once taken orally, can follow different ways of absorption. In particular, most of the nutrients such as minerals, vitamins, and amino acids are rapidly absorbed through specific transporters present in the colon and duodenum although a small part can also be absorbed at the sublingual level and in the stomach. The phyto-derivatives, on the other hand, mainly undergo metabolism by phase 1 and 2 enzymes residing in the small intestine despite the majority of phytoderivates metabolism taking place in the duodenum by the intestinal microbiota that biotransforms the phyto-derivatives into small bioactive metabolites able to enter the bloodstream [31,32,33,34].