Table 2.
Results of the effect of algae and its extracts supplementation on outcomes based on subgroup analyses.
| Outcome | Variable | No. of Trials | Effect Size (95% CI) | p-Value | I2 (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FPG (mmol/L ) | Intervention duration | ||||
| <10 weeks | 9 | −0.087 (−0.362, 0.189) | 0.538 | 71.9 | |
| >10 weeks | 6 | −0.034 (−0.173, 0.106) | 0.636 | 0.0 | |
| Sample size | |||||
| <40 | 9 | −0.064 (−0.279, 0.151) | 0.559 | 57.8 | |
| ≥40 | 6 | −0.073 (−0.327, 0.181) | 0.575 | 53.4 | |
| Intervention species | |||||
| Spirulina | 5 | 0.038 (−0.142, 0.218) | 0.680 | 0.0 | |
| Chlorella | 3 | 0.343 (−0.592, 1.279) | 0.472 | 81.1 | |
| Others | 9 | −0.121 (−0.327, 0.085) | 0.249 | 61.8 | |
| Health condition | |||||
| Health | 3 | 0.071 (−1.099, 0.342) | 0.604 | 0.0 | |
| Type 2 diabetes | 7 | −0.313 (−0.817, 0.191) | 0.223 | 69.7 | |
| Obesity | 5 | −0.047 (−0.181, 0.087) | 0.491 | 22.7 | |
| Other unhealth conditions | 2 | 0.874 (−0.909, 2.657) | 0.337 | 82.7 | |
| Area | |||||
| East Asia | 8 | −0.011 (−0.111, 0.090) | 0.833 | 0.0 | |
| Non−Asia | 2 | 0.061 (−0.263, 0.385) | 0.711 | 0.0 | |
| Southwest Asia | 7 | −0.098 (−0.710, 0.515) | 0.754 | 77.7 | |
| Insulin (pmol/mL ) | Intervention duration | ||||
| <10 weeks | 3 | −0.636 (−11.138, 9.866) | 0.905 | 92.0 | |
| >10 weeks | 6 | −0.299 (−7.456, 6.858) | 0.935 | 25.7 | |
| Sample size | |||||
| <40 | 4 | −9.597 (29.892, 10.697) | 0.354 | 90.8 | |
| ≥40 | 5 | 5.157 (2.611, 7.703) | 0.000 * | 0.0 | |
| HDL−C (mmol/L ) | Intervention duration | ||||
| <10 weeks | 10 | −0.068 (−0.276, 0.139) | 0.519 | 83.8 | |
| >10 weeks | 13 | −0.329 (−0.595, −0.064) | 0.015 * | 88.4 | |
| Sample size | |||||
| <40 | 11 | −0.158 (−0.441, 0.124) | 0.272 | 89.5 | |
| ≥40 | 12 | −0.298 (−0.507, −0.089) | 0.005 * | 84.9 | |
| Intervention species | |||||
| Spirulina | 11 | −0.382 (−0.683, −0.080) | 0.013 * | 89.9 | |
| Chlorella | 7 | 0.028 (−0.218, 0.274) | 0.821 | 83.6 | |
| Others | 5 | −0.158 (−0.455, 0.140) | 0.299 | 73.2 | |
| Health condition | |||||
| Health | 7 | −0.456 (−0.817, −0.094) | 0.013 * | 94.9 | |
| Type 2 diabetes | 5 | −0.010 (−0.181, 0.162) | 0.912 | 63.8 | |
| Obesity | 7 | −0.303 (−0.600, −0.006) | 0.046 * | 60.0 | |
| Other unhealth conditions | 4 | 0.158 (−0.626, 0.942) | 0.692 | 84.0 | |
| Area | |||||
| East Asia | 14 | −0.368 (−0.573, −0.163) | 0.000 * | 90.7 | |
| Non−Asia | 1 | − | − | − | |
| Southwest Asia | 8 | 0.164 (−0.009, 0.336) | 0.063 | 31.3 | |
| LDL−C (mmol/L ) | Intervention duration | ||||
| <10 weeks | 10 | −0.059 (−0.129, 0.011) | 0.101 | 54.9 | |
| >10 weeks | 14 | 0.129 (−0.276, 0.533) | 0.533 | 98.3 | |
| Sample size | |||||
| <40 | 11 | 0.121 (−0.314, 0.557) | 0.585 | 98.8 | |
| ≥40 | 13 | −0.028 (−0.094, 0.039) | 0.418 | 42.7 | |
| Intervention species | |||||
| Spirulina | 12 | 0.125 (−0.315, 0.564) | 0.579 | 98.5 | |
| Chlorella | 7 | −0.043 (−0.129, 0.042) | 0.321 | 46.8 | |
| Others | 5 | −0.084 (−0.179, 0.011) | 0.082 | 26.3 | |
| Health condition | |||||
| Health | 7 | −0.132 (−0.224, −0.039) | 0.005 * | 76.6 | |
| Type 2 diabetes | 5 | 0.036 (−0.670, 0.743) | 0.919 | 98.9 | |
| Obesity | 8 | 0.158 (−0.401, 0.716) | 0.581 | 98.9 | |
| Other unhealth conditions | 4 | 0.119 (0.001, 0.238) | 0.048 * | 0.0 | |
| Area | |||||
| East Asia | 14 | 0.095 (−0.184, 0.373) | 0.701 | 98.5 | |
| Non−Asia | 2 | −0.055 (−0.636, 0.526) | 0.853 | 79.5 | |
| Southwest Asia | 8 | 0.042 (−0.059, 0.144) | 0.413 | 0.0 | |
| TG (mmol/L ) | Intervention duration | ||||
| <10 weeks | 7 | 0.186 (−0.345, 0.717) | 0.493 | 57.6 | |
| >10 weeks | 15 | −0.112 (−0.551, 0.326) | 0.616 | 82.3 | |
| Sample size | |||||
| <40 | 11 | −0.110 (−1.123, 0.902) | 0.831 | 86.9 | |
| ≥40 | 11 | 0.116 (−0.058, 0.289) | 0.190 | 22.5 | |
| Intervention species | |||||
| Spirulina | 11 | −0.266 (−0.940, 0.408) | 0.439 | 87.6 | |
| Chlorella | 7 | 0.151 (−0.155, 0.456) | 0.335 | 46.4 | |
| Others | 4 | 0.030 (−0.549, 0.609) | 0.919 | 0.0 | |
| Health condition | |||||
| Health | 8 | 0.463 (0.017, 0.909) | 0.042 * | 73.1 | |
| Type 2 diabetes | 5 | −0.472 (−1.451, 0.507) | 0.345 | 87.9 | |
| Obesity | 3 | 0.091 (−0.782, 0.965) | 0.838 | 0.0 | |
| Other unhealth conditions | 6 | −0.558 (−1.412, 0.297) | 0.201 | 74.7 | |
| Area | |||||
| East Asia | 11 | 0.183 (−0.366, 0.751) | 0.514 | 86.0 | |
| Non−Asia | 2 | −0.180 (−0.679, 0.318) | 0.478 | 0.0 | |
| Southwest Asia | 9 | −0.294 (−0.848, 0.259) | 0.297 | 62.6 | |
| TC (mmol/L ) | Intervention duration | ||||
| <10 weeks | 9 | −0.128 (−0.383, 0.127) | 0.325 | 79.6 | |
| >10 weeks | 16 | −0.646 (−0.991, −0.300) | 0.000 * | 88.0 | |
| Sample size | |||||
| <40 | 11 | −0.242 (−0.513, 0.030) | 0.082 | 83.5 | |
| ≥40 | 14 | −0.700 (−1.101, −0.299) | 0.001 * | 90.0 | |
| Intervention species | |||||
| Spirulina | 13 | −0.803 (−1.223, −0.383) | 0.000 * | 90.1 | |
| Chlorella | 6 | −0.016 (−0.310, 0.278) | 0.914 | 79.0 | |
| Others | 6 | −0.242 (−0.518, 0.034) | 0.085 | 48.6 | |
| Health condition | |||||
| Health | 5 | −0.692 (−1.269, −0.115) | 0.019 * | 94.3 | |
| Type 2 diabetes | 5 | −0.072 (−0.250, 0.107) | 0.432 | 0.0 | |
| Obesity | 9 | −0.346 (−0.553, −0.140) | 0.001 * | 59.2 | |
| Other unhealth conditions | 6 | −0.810 (−2.137, 0.516) | 0.231 | 94.0 | |
| Area | |||||
| East Asia | 13 | −0.475 (−0.723, −0.226) | 0.000 * | 88.0 | |
| Non−Asia | 2 | −0.200 (−0.507, 0.107) | 0.202 | 0.0 | |
| Southwest Asia | 10 | −0.582 (−1.276, 0.113) | 0.101 | 89.6 |
Notes: * Indicates a significant result.