Cholesterol, High Cholesterol

Spirulina and cholesterol:

Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae that is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids, antioxidants that can help protect cells from damage. It contains nutrients, including B complex vitamins, beta-carotene, vitamin E, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, selenium, and gamma linolenic acid (an essential fatty acid). As cited by Karkos P.D, et al, spirulina at a dose of 4.2 g daily given to 15 male volunteers revealed no significant increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, but researchers observed a significant reduction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol after 8 weeks of treatment (136).  More research including efficacy and safety data is required before this agent can be recommended routinely since a number of spirulina samples have been found to be contaminated with a neurotoxin, anatoxin-a (136).