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# Spirulina compounds prevent nephropathy in diabetes mellitus
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/spirulina_diabetes_mellitus_1220130620/
- Published: 2013-12-20T19:19:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:44:56.000Z
- Description: In diabetic mice, oral phycocyanin at 300 mg/kg for 10 weeks protected against albuminuria and renal mesangial expansion and normalized oxidative stress markers. A second spirulina compound, phycocyanobilin, showed similar antioxidant activity at 15 mg/kg in two weeks.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Supplements, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Friday Dec 20, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- Compounds phycocyanin and phycocyanobilin found in spirulina platensis a blue-green algae may be taken as dietary supplements to prevent nephropathy in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, a new study in American Journal of Philology suggests.

The study shows phycocyanin protected against albuminuria and renal mesangial expansion in mice with diabetes mellitus when used orally in a dose of 300 mg/kg body weight for 10 weeks. The biotic also normalized tumor growth factor-beta and fibronectin expression.

Additionally, the spirulina compound normalized urinary and renal oxidative stress biomarkers and the expression of NAD(P)H oxidase components, which would be found in the mice with diabetes mellitus. 

Another spirulina compound phycocyanobilin was also found to have the similar antioxidant activity when used in an oral dose of 15 mg/kg body weight for only two weeks. The chemical structure of phycocyanobilin is similar to that of bilirubin and the similar effect of the spirulina compound is not surprising.

Furthermore, phycocyanobilin, bilirubin, and biliverdin, the precursor of bilirubin also inhibited NADPH dependent superoxide production in in vitro renal mesangial cells. Bilirubin results from normal haeme catabolism.

Early studies have shown that "bilirubin and its precursor biliverdin may have beneficial effects on diabetic vascular complications, including nephropathy, via its antioxidant effects,” according to the study report.

The study concluded that oral administration of spirulina compounds phycocyanin and phycocyanobilin may be a novel preventative against diabetic nephropathy in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The study was conducted by Jing Zheng Department of Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan.

Nephropathy is a major complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Early studies have provided evidence to indicate that taking spirulina as a dietary supplement can effectively help manage glucose levels in type 2 diabetics. (DL)