Compound library
Understand what people are taking.
Browse medicines, supplements, herbs, and health foods. Each profile brings community reports and linked research into one clear view.
Browse medicines, supplements, herbs, and health foods. Each profile brings community reports and linked research into one clear view.
Blue-green microalgae (Arthrospira) consumed as a dried whole-food powder; its phycocyanin and protein content have been studied in human trials for effects on blood lipids, glycated haemoglobin and immune markers.
16 of 19 results reported a benefit, from 4 published studies.
4 studies, including a review of trials
These are the figures the studies reported, not a prediction for any one person. Where several studies measured the same thing in the same unit, we show a simple average and say so. Every individual result is listed below.
See every resultLDL, HDL, triglycerides, and lipid profile management.
Also known as: Arthrospira platensis, Arthrospira maxima
Every published result for this pair, extracted and audited.
These charts group published studies by what they reported and how they were run — green marks studies that reported a benefit for this pairing. Tiers run from pooled analyses of many trials (strongest) to one-off observational reports.
Direction of reported outcomes for Spirulina in cholesterol.
Study designs behind these findings.
Hand-selected PubMed studies, linked to the originals.
Ordered by strength of evidence, then result direction.
01Clinical Efficacy of Curcumin, Resveratrol, Silymarin, and Berberine on Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systemic Review and Bayesian Network Meta-AnalysisMiao R, et al. · Phytotherapy research : PTR · 2025PMID 40439602 ↗02Efficacy and safety of berberine on the components of metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trialsLiu D, et al. · Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025PMID 40740996 ↗03The clinical efficacy and safety of berberine in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis and systematic reviewNie Q, et al. · Journal of translational medicine · 2024PMID 38429794 ↗04Overall and Sex-Specific Effect of Berberine for the Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Placebo-Controlled TrialsBe the first to share what you noticed with Spirulina for cholesterol. Why counts start empty.
Every measured outcome, one row per finding - numbers exactly as reported.
| Study | Design | n | Duration | Outcome measured | Reported result | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMID 37263369 2023 | Meta-analysis | 1076 | - | HDL-C | 0.3 (95% CI: 0.0, 0.6, P<0.05) | Benefit |
| PMID 37263369 2023 | Meta-analysis | 1076 | - | LDL-C | -0.6 (95% CI: -0.9, -0.2, P<0.05) | Benefit |
| PMID 37263369 2023 | Meta-analysis | 1076 | - | TC | -0.6 (95% CI: -0.9, -0.2, P<0.05) | Benefit |
| PMID 37263369 2023 | Meta-analysis | 1076 | - | TG | -0.6 (95% CI: -0.9, -0.2, P<0.05) | Benefit |
| PMID 26433766 2016 | Meta-analysis | - | - | HDL-C | 6.06 mg/dL (95% CI: 2.37-9.76, p = 0.001) | Benefit |
| PMID 26433766 2016 | Meta-analysis | - | - | LDL-C | -41.32 mg/dL (95% CI: -60.62 to -22.03, p < 0.001) | Benefit |
| PMID 26433766 2016 | Meta-analysis | - | - | total cholesterol | -46.76 mg/dL (95% CI: -67.31 to -26.22, p < 0.001) | Benefit |
| PMID 26433766 2016 | Meta-analysis | - | - | triglycerides | -44.23 mg/dL (95% CI: -50.22 to -38.24, p < 0.001) | Benefit |
| PMID 35877734 2022 | Randomised trial | 40 | twelve weeks | HDL-cholesterol | reported qualitatively (p = 0.031) | Benefit |
| PMID 35877734 2022 | Randomised trial | 40 | twelve weeks | oxLDL/total cholesterol ratio | reported qualitatively (p = 0.36) | No benefit |
| PMID 35877734 2022 | Randomised trial | 40 | twelve weeks | Plasma triglycerides | reported qualitatively (p = 0.003) | Benefit |
| PMID 35877734 2022 | Randomised trial | 40 | twelve weeks | Urinary isoprostanes concentration | reported qualitatively (p = 0.014) | Benefit |
| PMID 34542204 2021 | Randomised trial | 48 | 8 weeks | diastolic blood pressure | .03 | Benefit |
| PMID 34542204 2021 | Randomised trial | 48 | 8 weeks | hs-CRP | reported qualitatively | No benefit |
| PMID 34542204 2021 | Randomised trial | 48 | 8 weeks | low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels | reported qualitatively | Benefit |
| PMID 34542204 2021 | Randomised trial | 48 | 8 weeks | serum triglyceride | .01 | Benefit |
| PMID 34542204 2021 | Randomised trial | 48 | 8 weeks | systolic blood pressure | .02 | Benefit |
| PMID 34542204 2021 | Randomised trial | 48 | 8 weeks | TAC | reported qualitatively | No benefit |
| PMID 34542204 2021 | Randomised trial | 48 | 8 weeks | total cholesterol | reported qualitatively | Benefit |