Supplement Forms / Alternate Names
  • Blue-green Algae
Principal Proposed Uses
  • Nutritional Support
Other Proposed Uses:

• Cancer Prevention;  
• Fibromyalgia; 
• Hay Fever;  
• Herpes Infection;  
• High Cholesterol;  
• Hives; 
• HIV Infection; 
• Immune Support;  
• Liver Protection; 
• Weight Loss;
  

 

 

---

The supplement called 

Earth's first food produced oxygen so life could evolve 

These tiny green spiral coils harvest the energy of the sun, growing a treasure of bioavailable nutrients. This first photosynthetic life form was designed by nature 3.6 billion years ago. Blue green algae produced the oxygen in our atmosphere allowing all higher life forms to evolve. It contains everything life needed to evolve into its rich diversity today.

This immortal life form has renewed itself for billions of years. In the past 20 years it has reintroduced itself to humanity. Spirulina contains billions of years of successful evolutionary wisdom coded in its DNA.

More nutrition per acre than any other food
It can be grown with brackish water and non-fertile land that cannot be used by other crops. It can produce 20 times more protein per acre than soybeans.

If we can use unusable resources to grow the most powerful food on Earth, we can help stop cutting the last of the primordial forests to grow food. By bringing spirulina into our personal lives, we become part of the solution to improve the health of our planet.

Why is spirulina the most researched algae? Does spirulina contain antioxidants? Phytonutrients? Probiotics? Nutraceuticals? Yes on all counts.

It contains compounds like phycocyanin, polysaccharides and sulfolipids that enhance the immune system. Spirulina contains the most remarkable concentration of functional nutrients ever known in any food, plant, grain or herb.

No other algae, blue-green or chlorella, has been the subject of such intense research over the past 30 years. Thousands of scientific studies. Why? Unlike other algae, we can economically cultivate spirulina all over the globe.

What new discoveries are being revealed?

Several years ago, the National Cancer Institute announced sulfolipids from blue-green algae like spirulina were remarkably active in test tube experiments against the AIDS virus.

In 1993-95, research showed natural polysaccharides in spirulina increased T-cell counts, strengthened the immune system and raised disease resistance in chickens, fish and mice. The animal feed industry is embracing spirulina as a new probiotic to replace overused antiobiotic drugs in animal feeds. In 1994, a Russian patent was awarded for spirulina as a medicine for reducing allergic reactions from radiation in the Children of Chernobyl.

The oldest organisms-the ones who gave us life-are back to revitalize us.
They are one of the many solutions we need for restoring our planet in the next 20 years.

S consists of one or more members of a family of blue-green algae. The name was inspired by the spiral shapes in which these plants array themselves as they grow.¹ Other blue-green algae products are also available on the market, and they are discussed in this article as well.

Spirulina  grows in the wild in salty lakes in Mexico and on the African continent. It reproduces quickly, and because the individual plants tend to stick together, it is easy to harvest. Records of the Spanish conquistadores suggest that the Aztecs used Spirulina  as a food source; we also know that the Kanembu people of Central Africa harvested it from what is now called Lake Chad.

Spirulina is a rich source of protein—dried spirulina contains up to 70% protein by weight²—but you'd have to eat an awful lot of spirulina capsules to obtain a significant amount of protein this way. Spirulina also contains vitamin B-12, a nutrient otherwise found almost exclusively in animal foods. However, again there's a catch: the B₁₂ in spirulina is not absorbable.³

Spirulina has not been proven effective for any medical condition, and there are significant safety concerns involving all forms of blue-green algae (see Safety Issues).

---

Requirements/Sources

Unless you live within 35 degrees of the equator, on the shores of an alkaline lake, you will have difficulty finding Spirulina anywhere but in a health food store. Most carry a number of brands of Spirulina  that has been dried and processed into powder or tablets.

---

Therapeutic Dosages

Researchers studying Spirulina'S  effects on health have used a variety of doses, ranging from 1 to 8.4 g daily.

---

Therapeutic Uses

There is no question that Spirulina  is a nutritious food, but it isn't cheap.Protein can be obtained much more easily and inexpensively from legumes, nuts, grains, and animal foods; iron from dark greens, prunes, and meat; and carotenes and vitamins from standard fruits and vegetables.

Spirulina  might have other specific therapeutic uses beyond general nutritional support, but the evidence supporting these recommendations is highly preliminary at best.

Manufacturers of Spirulina supplements sometimes claim that the plant can reduce appetite, thereby helping overweight individuals control their food intake. However, one small double-blind study of Spirulina  forweight loss failed to find a significant difference between Spirulina  and placebo treatment.

One small double-blind trial did find evidence that a blue-green algae called Chlorella pyrenoidosa might be useful for fibromyalgia.

Evidence from animal studies and one small  controlled(but not blinded) study in humans suggests that Spirulina  might help lower cholesterol.However, in the absence of double-blind,  placebo-controlled trials, it is too early to say that Spirulina  can be used for this purpose.

Very preliminary evidence suggests that Spirulina , like other nutritious plant foods, may help prevent cancer.

Test tube and animal studies suggest that Spirulina  might have some activity against the HIV virus, but much more research needs to be done before we could say that Spirulina  is helpful against HIV infection.

Highly preliminary evidence suggests that Spirulina  or other blue-green algae products may activate the immune system counter allergic reactions such as hay fever and hives help protect the liver from toxic chemicals,reduce blood pressure and control symptoms of ulcerative colitis.

Despite widespread publicity, there is no evidence that Spirulina is useful for attention deficit disorder.

---

What Is the Scientific Evidence for Spirulina?

There are no well-documented uses of spirulina.

Fibromyalgia is a common chronic condition whose main symptoms are specific tender points on various parts of the body, widespread musculoskeletal discomfort, morning stiffness, fatigue, and disturbed sleep. The cause of fibromyalgia is not known, and current treatments are far from completely satisfactory.

A recent study suggests that the nutritious algae Chlorella pyrenoidosa might be helpful. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial 37 people with fibromyalgia were given either placebo or chlorella supplements at a dose of 10 g daily. At the end of 3 months, individuals were switched to the opposite group, and then treated for an additional 3 months. The results showed significant improvements in symptoms when participants used chlorella as compared to placebo.

Weight Loss

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated the possible weight loss effects of spirulina. However, while individuals taking 8.4 g of spirulina daily lost weight, the difference between the spirulina group and the placebo group was not statictically significant. Larger and longer studies are needed to establish whether spirulina is indeed an effective treatment for obesity.

---

Safety Issues

Spirulina itself appears to be nontoxic.Studies in rats showed that high spirulina intake caused no weight reduction or toxicity symptoms in rats, nor did spirulina affect the rats' ability to reproduce normally.

Nevertheless, there are areas of serious concern for consumers.

Various forms of blue-green algae can be naturally contaminated with highly toxic substances called microcystins.

Some states, such as Oregon, require producers to strictly limit the concentration of microcystins in blue-green algae products, but the same protections cannot be assumed to have been applied to all products on the market. Furthermore, the maximum safe intake of microcystins is not clear, and it is possible that when blue-green algae is used for a long time, toxic effects might build up. Long-term use by children raises particular concerns, especially in light of the widely popularized but unsubstantiated belief that blue-green algae is useful for attention deficit disorder.

Blue-green algae can also contain a different kind of highly toxic substance, called anatoxin.

In addition, when spirulina is grown with the use of fermented animal waste fertilizers, contamination with dangerous bacteria could occur. There are also concerns that spirulina might concentrate radioactive ions found in its environment. Probably of most concern is spirulina's ability to absorb and concentrate heavy metals such as lead and mercury if they are present in its environment. One study of spirulina grown in a number of locations found them to contain an unacceptably high content of these toxic metals. However, a second study on this topic claims that the first used an unreliable method of analyzing heavy metal content, and concludes that a person would have to eat more than 77 g daily of the most heavily contaminated spirulina to reach unsafe mercury and lead consumption levels.

These researchers, however, go on to suggest that it is not prudent to eat more than 50 g of spirulina daily. The reason they give is that the plant contains a high concentration of nucleic acids, substances related to DNA. When these are metabolized, they create uric acid, which could cause  gout or kidney stones. This is of special concern to those who have already had uric acid stones or attacks of gout.

The safety of spirulina in pregnant and nursing women, young children, and individuals with kidney or liver disease has not been determined.

---

References

1. Lee RE. Phycology. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1989: 91.

2. Dillon JC, Phuc AP, Dubacq JP. Nutritional value of the alga spirulina. World Rev Nutr Diet. 1995;77:32–46.

3. Dagnelie P, van Staveren WA, van den Berg H. Vitamin B-12 from algae appears not to be bioavailable. Am J Clin Nutr. 1991;53:695–697.

4. Facts and Comparisons. Spirulina Monograph. The Review of Natural Products.February 1998.

5. Becker EW, Jakober B, Luft D, et al. Clinical and biochemical evaluations of the alga Spirulina with regard to its application in the treatment of obesity. A double-blind cross-over study. Nutr Rep Int. 1986;33:565–574.

6. Merchant RE, Andre CA. A review of recent clinical trials of the nutritional supplement Chlorella pyrenoidosa in the treatment of fibromyalgia, hypertension, and ulcerative colitis. Altern Ther Health Med. 2001;7:79–80, 82–91.

7. Iwata K, Inayama T, Kato T. Effects of Spirulina platensis on plasma lipoprotein lipase activity in fructose-induced hyperlipidemic rats. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol. 1990;36:165–171.

8. Gonzalez de Rivera C, Miranda-Zamora R, Diaz-Zagoya JC, et al. Preventive effect of Spirulina maxima on the fatty liver induced by a fructose-rich diet in the rat, a preliminary report. Life Sci. 1993;53:57–61.

9. Nakaya N, Homma Y, Goto Y. Cholesterol lowering effect of spirulina. Nutr Rep Int. 1988;37:1329–1337.

10. Schwartz J, Shklar G, Reid S, et al. Prevention of experimental oral cancer by extracts of Spirulina-Dunaliella algae. Nutr Cancer. 1988;11:127–134.

11. Mathew B, Sankaranarayanan R, Nair PP, et al. Evaluation of chemoprevention of oral cancer with Spirulina fusiformis. Nutr Cancer. 1995;24:197–202.

12. Mishima T, Murata J, Toyoshima M, et al. Inhibition of tumor invasion and metastasis by calcium spirulan (Ca-SP), a novel sulfated polysaccharide derived from a blue-green alga, Spirulina platensis.Clin Exp Metastasis. 1998;16:541–550.

13. Ayehunie S, Belay A, Baba TW, et al. Inhibition of HIV-1 replication by an aqueous extract of Spirulina platensis (Arthrospira platensis).J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1998;18:7–12.

14. Hayashi K, Hayashi T, Kojima I. A natural sulfated polysaccharide, calcium spirulan, isolated from Spirulina platensis: in vitro and ex vivo evaluation of anti-herpes simplex virus and anti-human immunodeficiency virus activities. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1996;12:1463–1471.

15. Qureshi MA, Ali RA. Spirulina platensis exposure enhances macrophage phagocytic function in cats. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 1996;18:457–463.

16. Qureshi MA, Garlich JD, Kidd MT. Dietary Spirulina platensis enhances humoral and cell-mediated immune functions in chickens. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 1996;18:465–476.

17. Hayashi O, Katoh T, Okuwaki Y. Enhancement of antibody production in mice by dietary Spirulina platensis. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol. 1994;40:431–441.

18. Kim HM, Lee EH, Cho HH, et al. Inhibitory effect of mast cell-mediated immediate-type allergic reactions in rats by spirulina. Biochem Pharmacol. 1998;55:1071–1076.

19. Yang HN, Lee EH, Kim HM. Spirulina platensis inhibits anaphylactic reaction. Life Sci. 1997;61:1237-1244.

20. Torres-Duran PV, Miranda-Zamora R, Paredes-Carbajal MC, et al. Spirulina maxima prevents induction of fatty liver by carbon tetrachloride in the rat. Biochem Mol Biol Int. 1998;44:787–793.

21. Vadiraja BB, Gaikwad NW, Madyastha KM. Hepatoprotective effect of C-phycocyanin: protection for carbon tetrachloride and R-(+)-pulegone-mediated hepatotoxicity in rats. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1998;249:428–431.

22. Merchant RE, Andre CA. A review of recent clinical trials of the nutritional supplement Chlorella pyrenoidosa in the treatment of fibromyalgia, hypertension, and ulcerative colitis. Altern Ther Health Med. 2001;7:79–80, 82–91.

23. Merchant RE, Andre CA. A review of recent clinical trials of the nutritional supplement Chlorella pyrenoidosa in the treatment of fibromyalgia, hypertension, and ulcerative colitis. Altern Ther Health Med. 2001;7:79–80, 82–91.

24. Becker EW, Jakober B, Luft D, et al. Clinical and biochemical evaluations of the alga Spirulina with regard to its application in the treatment of obesity. A double-blind cross-over study. Nutr Rep Int. 1986;33:565–574.

25. Dillon JC, Phuc AP, Dubacq JP. Nutritional value of the alga spirulina. World Rev Nutr Diet. 1995;77:32–46.

26. Salazar M, Chamorro GA, Salazar S, et al. Effect of Spirulina maxima consumption of reproduction and peri- and postnatal development in rats. Food Chem Toxicol.1996;34:353–359.

27. Chamorro GA, Herrera G, Salazar M, et al. Short-term toxicity study of Spirulina in F3b generation rats. J Toxicol Clin Exp. 1988;8:163–167.

28. Facts and Comparisons. Spirulina Monograph. The Review of Natural Products.February 1998.

29. Facts and Comparisons. Spirulina Monograph. The Review of Natural Products.February 1998.

30. Pouria S, de Andrade A, Barbosa J, et al. Fatal microcystin intoxication in haemodialysis unit in Caruaru, Brazil. Lancet. 1998;352:21–26.

31. Gilroy DJ, Kauffman KW, Hall RA, et al. Assessing potential health risks from microcystin toxins in blue-green algae dietary supplements. Environ Health Perspect. 2000;108:435–439.

32. Islam MS, Rahim Z, Alam MJ, et al. Association of Vibrio cholerae O1 with the cyanobacterium, Anabaena sp., elucidated by polymerase chain reaction and transmission electron microscopy. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 1999;93:36–40.

33. Johnson PE, Shubert LE. Accumulation of mercury and other elements by Spirulina (Cyanophyceae). Nutr Rep Int. 1986;34:1063–1070.

34. Slotton DG, Goldman CR, Franke A. Commercially grown spirulina found to contain low levels of mercury and lead. Nutr Rep Int. 1989;40:1165–1171.

35. Jochimsen EM, Carmichael WW, An JS, et al. Liver failure and death after exposure to microcystins at a hemodialysis center in Brazil. N Engl J Med. 2003;338:873–878.

36. Astrachan NB, Archer BG, Hilbelink DR. Evaluation of the subacute toxicity and teratogenicity of anatoxin-a. Toxicon. 1980;18:684–688.

---