Spirulina

Common names: Spirulina, dihe, tecuitlatl

Efficacy-safety rating:

●●...Ethno or other evidence of efficacy.

Safety rating:

What is Spirulina?

Spirulina, a type of blue-green algae (cyanophytes/cyanobacteria), takes the form of microscopic, corkscrew-shaped filaments, with A. plantensis found in Africa and Asia and A. maxima found in Central America. Free growing, spirulina lives in high-salt alkaline water in subtropical and tropical areas, sometimes imparting a dark-green color to bodies of water. Spirulina is noted for its characteristic behavior in carbonated water and energetic growth in laboratory cultures. It is commercially grown in the United States and has been proposed as the primary foodstuff to be cultivated during long-term space missions because it withstands extreme conditions.

What is Spirulina used for?

Spirulina has been described in literature since the 16th century. Spanish explorers observed the Aztecs harvesting a blue mud that probably consisted of spirulina. The mud, which was dried to form chips or flavored loaves, was obtained from Lake Texcoco in Mexico. Spirulina was similarly harvested by natives of the Sahara Desert, where it was known as dihe, approximately 10,000 km away.

Spirulina, considered a food item for centuries, is now popularly thought of as a dietary supplement. Spirulina consumption was purported to aid in weight loss because of its high phenylalanine content, but a Food and Drug Administration review found no evidence to support this claim. Diverse claims exist for its immunostimulatory, cholesterol-lowering, antiviral, and anticancer effects; however, there is limited evidence to support these indications.

What is the dosage of Spirulina?

There is insufficient clinical data to guide dosing of spirulina for therapeutic effect. Spirulina has typically been studied in daily dosage of 1 to 10 g.

Is Spirulina safe?

Use of phenylketonuria may be hazardous; however, this has not been substantiated.

Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking. Because of possible mercury and other heavy metal contamination, spirulina should be avoided during pregnancy.

None well documented.

Few reports of adverse reactions are available. However, spirulina-associated liver toxicity and reactions from heavy metal contamination are possible.

Spirulina is considered nontoxic to humans at usual levels of consumption; however, information is limited.

References

Copyright © 2006 Wolters Kluwer Health

Link to Page

Print Page

Email Page

Add to List

User reviews

0 review(s) for Spirulina