Nutrition, Supplements and Exercise for Optimal Health

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Spirulina

Spirulina and anatoxin-a exposure:

Tests were conducted on a sampling of 39 Spirulina supplements and found that 7.7% (3 samples) contained anatoxin-a, a neurotoxin, at concentrations ranging from 2.50 to 33 micrograms per gram (11).

Assessment and Plan: Spirulina

Spirulina is a concentrated nutrient food source containing protein, beta carotene, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, selenium, and chromium. B complex vitamins, vitamin E, manganese, zinc, copper, iron, gamma linolenic acid (an essential fatty acid), and others.

Spirulina and allergies:
- Spirulina has the ability to counteract allergic reactions, anaphylactic response, and has been found to reduce levels of histamine (1,2,4).
- For allergic rhinitis: Spirulina at a dose of 2000 mg oral daily for 6 months significantly improved symptoms and physical findings of allergic rhinitis compared with placebo in signs and symptoms of congestion, sneezing, drainage, and itching (3).

Spirulina and cholesterol:
- Spirulina at a dose of 4.2 grams daily given to 15 male volunteers did not improve high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, but reduced LDL cholesterol after 8 weeks (5).
- Hypocholesterolemic patients with ischemic heart disease taking 2 or 4 grams of Spirulina for 3 months resulted in a lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels as well as an increase in HDL cholesterol (6). An animal study also supported these findings (7).

Spirulina and neuroprotective effects in stoke: When blueberry, spinach, or Spirulina was included in rats with ischemic stroke, the nutrients from these foods appeared to reduce not only cerebral ischemia, but also cell death and tissue death. (8)

Spirulina and oral leukoplakia, a precancerous condition associated with oral cancer: Spirulina at a dose of 1 gram oral daily for one year for oral leukoplakia in tobacco chewers resulted in complete regression in 45% of the Spirulina group compared to 7% of the placebo group (9).

Spirulina adverse reactions and interactions:
- After reviewing the following information, a healthcare provider may advise patients currently taking a Spirulina supplement, or consider the use of Spirulina in patients with allergic rhinitis, hyperlipidemia, or oral leukoplakia:
- An ideal Spirulina product should be pure, and standardized to be free of microcystins, heavy metals, bacteria, and anatoxin-a. A basic online search by Preventive Health Advisor has not located a Spirulina product which meets these requirements. If a product with these standards is able to be located, it would be the most suitable for use by patients.
- A safety data review of Spirulina by the Dietary Supplements Information Expert Committee (DSI-EC) of the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) reported that use of Spirulina does not present a serious health risk but addressed the following concerns with this supplement (10):
- Adverse events of Spirulina have been reported by the DSI-EC, which include liver damage, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, headache, dizziness, itching, rash, headache, dehydration, dysphasia, renal failure, oropharyngeal pain, malaise, abdominal pain, chest pain, pyrexia, tachycardia, tachypnea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. However, the amount, purity, and duration of Spirulina ingredients being taken were unknown and combined with other ingredients in these reports.
- The FDA has allowed nutrition companies to include up to 3 grams of Spirulina per serving in supplements and food products. The FDA has not formally determined Spirulina to be GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe), but has not had any objections to several companies declaring it to be GRAS. The Dietary Supplements Labels Database recommends a maximum of 7 grams per day.
- The DSI-EC recommended that Spirulina products be tested to contain less than 1 ppm of microcystins, less than 10 mcg per gram of heavy metals, and tested for microbial contaminants.
- Spirulina should also be tested to be free of anatoxin-a since 3 out of 39 samples tested positive in a study (11).

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Assessment and Plan: Spirulina

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