title: Spirulina did not ameliorate idiopathic chronic fatigue in four N-of-1 randomized controlled trials.
abstract: Idiopathic chronic fatigue is an exclusion diagnosis established when no chronic disease is found. Spirulina platensis is an alga with a rich content of proteins, vitamins, minerals and amino acids and is considered as a bioactive additive with multiple effects, among them being effects against fatigue. However, despite the worldwide utilization of Spirulina, there are only a few quality studies with it and none concerning fatigue. The N-of-1 randomized trials are made on one patient, and by this kind of study the efficacy of a treatment on that particular patient can be assessed. A series of four N-of-1 double-blind, randomized trials were performed on four physicians who complained of chronic fatigue. Each patient was his own control and received three pairs of treatments comprising 4 weeks of spirulina and 4 weeks of placebo. Spirulina platensis was administered in a dose of 3 g/day. For each pair, the order of treatments was randomized. Outcome measures were severity of fatigue measured on a 10-point scale. The scores of fatigue were not significantly different between spirulina and placebo. Spirulina administered in a dose of 3 g/day did not ameliorate fatigue more than the placebo in any of the four subjects, and possibly it has no effect on chronic fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Spitalul Colentina, Soseaua Stefan cel Mare 19-21, sect. 2, 020125 Bucharest, Romania. cbaicus@clicknet.ro
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baicus
authors.forename: Anda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baicus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005221:Fatigue / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D053545:Spirulina / Q000737:chemistry*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors