Spirulina (blue-green algae)

Pilkington, K. and CAM-Cancer Consortium 2013. Spirulina (blue-green algae). CAM-Cancer Database National Information Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NIFAB).

TitleSpirulina (blue-green algae)
AuthorsPilkington, K. and CAM-Cancer Consortium
Abstract

Spirulina refers to various species of blue-green algae found naturally in lakes and grown commercially.

It is used as a food colouring and is taken orally as a nutritional supplement in tablet, capsule or dried powder form.

It is claimed to have immune-stimulating effects and to be beneficial in a wide range of diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, viral infections and cancer.

Effects on the immune system have been observed in pre-clinical studies and small trials in healthy volunteers and possible protective effects against chemotherapy toxicity have been reported in animal models. One small clinical trial in leukoplakia reported better response (improvement of lesions) to a year’s treatment with spirulina than to placebo.

Few adverse effects have been reported with spirulina products. Some blue-algae products have been found to be contaminated with hepatotoxic microcystins and will not be as safe as pure spirulina supplements.

Evidence of beneficial effects in cancer is extremely limited but spirulina is generally well-tolerated. Reliable evidence on safety in pregnancy and breast-feeding is not available.

Year2013
PublisherNational Information Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NIFAB)
Place of publicationCAM-Cancer Database
Publication dates
Published2013
Web address (URL)http://www.cam-cancer.org/CAM-Summaries/Herbal-products/Spirulina-blue-green-algae

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