Assessing the impact of Spirulina supplementation on the growth of children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Spirulina, a nutrient-dense blue-green microalgae, has been proposed as a sustainable intervention to combat undernutrition in children and adolescents. Despite its nutritional benefits, evidence regarding its impact on overall growth in this population remains limited and inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes the available evidence on impact of Spirulina supplementation on the growth of children and adolescents. Methods Following PRISMA (version 2020) guidelines, we systematically searched five databases [PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, CENTRAL and Google Scholar (till 16 th July 2024)] for experimental studies published in English. Eligible studies assessed the impact of Spirulina supplementation on the growth of children and adolescents (<18 years), with growth-related outcomes such as changes in height, weight, etc. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were conducted independently. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed using standardized mean differences (SMDs) to pool results. Findings Of 208 identified studies, 5 met the inclusion criteria, and 2 were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled SMD for weight changes was −0.526 (95% CI, −1.289 to 0.236), indicating no statistically significant effect ( p = 0.176). Heterogeneity was substantial (I 2 = 99%). Variability in intervention dosage, duration and adherence to supplementation contributed to the observed heterogeneity. Interpretation Spirulina supplementation did not show a statistically significant impact on growth outcomes in children and adolescents. Further high-quality studies are needed to explain its role as a nutritional intervention. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO , identifier: CRD4202457183.