Health Benefits of Using Spirulina as Functional Food-Based Therapy for Spirulina Consumers. Case study:  Kicukiro and Gasabo Districts, Kigali City, Rwanda in 2025

Background: Spirulina is a nutrient-dense blue - green algae that grows naturally in alkaline lakes and is also cultivated worldwide as a dietary supplement. A microalga scientifically classified under the most commonly used species, which are Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima. It has been consumed for centuries, most notably by the Aztecs, who harvested it from Lake Texcoco, and by communities around Lake Chad. It has emerged as one of the most promising functional foods in contemporary nutrition science due to its exceptional nutritional profile and therapeutic properties. This photosynthetic cyanobacterium contains approximately 60-70% high-quality protein by dry weight, along with essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds including phycocyanin, chlorophyll, and carotenoids Aim: This study aims to comprehensively assess the health benefits of spirulina as a functional food-based therapy among consumers in Kicukiro and Gasabo districts of Rwanda. Methods: This study focused on surveying and interviewing spirulina consumers about its potential health benefits. A questionnaire and interview methods were used for data collection. A sample of 30 spirulina consumers was selected from Gasabo and Kicukiro districts by using the Snowball sampling method. Tabulation and SPSS were used to present and analyze results respectively. Results: Findings show that the majority 5(16.7%) used spirulina during 5 years ago, no side effect of spirulina were reported by respondents, regarding health benefits of spirulina, 25 various health benefits were reported by its consumers and are summarize in table 11, where the majority of them 7(23.3%) reported that it strengthened their body, 5(16.67%) reported that spirulina constructed their body, 4(13,33) reported that spirulina promote healthy skin, 3(10%) reported that spirulina prevented the severity of HIV opportunistic infection, 3(10%) reported that spirulina increases appetite, 2(6.67%) reported that spirulina increases strength during sexuality,2(6.67) reported that spirulina increases blood,2(6.67%) reported that spirulina reduces blood pressure. Conclusions: It is observed that any kind of disease condition associated with a stressful lifestyle is reduced due to spirulina use. This is because spirulina contains antioxidants that neutralize and reduce the effect of oxidative stress related to long-term exposure to chronic stress.