Table 2 Nutrition and hematological changes during administration of Placebo and Spirulina in the spirulina cross- over trial

Anthropometrics

(n = 149)

95%CI

(n = 149)

95%CI

(n = 149)

95%CI

(n = 149)

95%CI

Weight (kg) ^μ

14.80

14.42–15.18

0.50

0.39–0.62

14.55

14.18–14.92

0.62

0.53–0.72

0.07

Height (cm) ^μ*

101.67

100.50–102.83

2.61

1.76–3.46

100.90

99.80–102.13

2.12

1.99–2.26

0.8

Thinness: BMI -2SD^μ *

42

28.19%

−3

−2.14%

55

36.91

− 21

−15%

0.17

 Wasting: Weight/height < − 2 ^a *

10

16.6%

2

3.3%

9

15.00%

0

0.3

 Weight/height < −1

21

20.58%

−5

8.33

21

35.00%

5

8.33

 Stunting: Height/Age < −2

11

18.3%

1

1.6%

10

0

0.6

 Height/Age < −1

10

16.6%

3

5%

12

1

Biology

(n = 99)

95%CI

(n = 99)

95%CI

(n = 99)

95%CI

(n = 99)

95%CI

Hemoglobin (g/dL)*

11.87

11.68–12.05

.09

−0.04; 0.23

11.86

11.69–12.02

.01

−0.11; 0.13

0.4

Children with Anemia (< 11 g/d)*

15

(15.15%)

−6

(−6.06%)

12

(12.12%)

−11

(−11.11%)

0.004

Eosinophil (/mm³)*

1209

988–1430

− 287

− 424; − 151.1467

1319

1074–1565

− 282

− 437; − 128

0.9

Children with hyper eosinophil*

73

73.74%

− 9

− 9.10%

80

80.81%

− 11

− 12.8%

0.4

Ferritin (μg/L)*

62.40

54.96–69.84

3.10

−9.21; 15.42

65.57

58.87–72.27

−2.65

−8.87; 3.56

0.06

Ferritin < 30 μg/L*

14

14.14%

4

4.04%

10

10.10

3

3.03%

1

MCV (fL)

73.69

72.46–74.92

−.059

−0.39-0.27

73.63

72.35–74.91

−.04

− 0.36 - 0.26

0.9

MCV ≤ 70

26

26.26%

0

–

22

22.22%

+ 5

5.15%

1

C-Reactive Protein (mg/L)*

1.29

0.90–1.67

0.34

−0.28; 0.96

1.84

1.25–2.43

−.001

−.73; 0.73

Children with CRP > 6

4

(4.04%)

4

(4.04%)

8

(8.08%)

−1

(− 7.07%)

0.09