Amazing Properties of Spirulina Unknown to the General Public

Because of my father’s liver cancer I wrote about earlier, I had read well over a hundred research studies on Spirulina (SP). I want to share with you in my blog.

Spirulina, a species of blue-green algae, is earth’s oldest living thing. It existed 3.5 billion years ago with immeasurable strength in life’s vital forces. Spirulina had been the choice of food for the astronauts of NASA and European Space Agency for many years.  Many world organizations including the United Nations have been studying the therapeutic and medicinal properties of Spirulina for over 30 years. In 2008, the UN Food & Agriculture Organization presented a position paper on Spirulina and rated favorably its properties, stating that “clinical trials have shown that Spirulina  can serve as a supplementary cure for many diseases.”

Spirulina contains over 30 types of nutrients, including proteins, essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, enzymes, chlorophyll, anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals. Spirulina is the earth’s most nutritious, balanced and suitable whole food for human consumption.

Spirulina can be seen under a microscope

 

Scientific Research and Findings on Spirulina and PC (Phycocyanin)

In the medical field, scientific studies on humans are valued much higher than those on animals or in labs. There has only been a handful of research of Spirulina on humans but the results were quite amazing.

Chemopreventive properties. In the late 80s, developing countries all started to do research on the nutritional value of SP, especially on children and teenagers. These were prompted by the Chernobyl disaster in Russia. In 1994, 49 children aged 3 – 7 years old of the disaster suffered from radiation poisoning were fed 5 gm of SP a day. Their bone marrow was damaged, rendering them immune deficient. They were also anemic and suffered from terrible allergic reactions. Within 6 weeks of taking SP, their radioactivity dropped by 83% with other significant improvements.

Anti-cancer properties. In 1995, the first human study evaluating the chemopreventive potential of SP was conducted in India. The study involved 44 adults, all tobacco chewers, suffered from precancerous lesion called leukoplakia. After feeding them 1 gm daily of SP for 12 months, complete regression of lesions was observed in 45% of subjects.

In 2002, another human study was done to assess the anti-cancer properties of SP. In Japan, 12 healthy male volunteers age between 40 - 65 were recruited and fed with SP. Within 2 months, their NK cells were much higher than before. It was concluded that SP potentiates the immune system leading to the suppression of cancer development and viral infection. This finding was in line with all the studies in the 1990s on mice, that SP facilitated antibody production, increase macrophages and induce spleen cells to grow.

Anti-oxidant properties. Several studies in the 90s showed that SP supported the detoxification of pollutants, increased the level of immunoglobulin and strengthened the immune system.

Improve lipid profile (cholesterol, fatty liver, LDL and triglycerides)and prevent heart diseases. A study conducted in Japan concluded that SP lowered cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). 30 male volunteers with high cholesterol, mild hypertension and hyperlipidemia were given 4 g of SP daily for 2 months. Total cholesterol dropped within a month. A similar study earlier concluded that a diet enriched with SP could alleviate disease since the atherosclerosis index improved.

Another study conducted in India concluded SP played a key role in weight reduction, lowering blood cholesterol levels and improving lipid profile (reduce LDL and raise HDL). 30 volunteers were fed with 2 – 4 g of SP for 4 weeks.

Lower glucose level. In 2001, there was a study on 20 males and 20 females between 40 – 60 years old in India. It was found that SP significantly reduce ed blood glucose levels.

Prevent skeletal muscle damage. A study in 2006 showed that SP could prevent skeletal muscle damage by reducing pre-oxidative stress level. It could also combat fatigue and postpone time of exhaustion by reducing the serum level of CK and LDH.

Nutritional supplement. Further research proved that SP provided many high quality nutrients, easily absorbed by human beings. It includes 60 – 70% of vegetable protein with a full spectrum of 18 amino acids. SP is very rich in omega 3 and has one of the highest gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which is not easily taken in our regular diets. It has complete vitamin B complex, including B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12. It is also rich in minerals, particularly iron (90% absorbable), zinc, manganese and calcium. Other biologically active substances include polysaccharides, lipids (both glycolipids and sulfolipids), enzymes and probiotics.

Its dark color comes from natural pigments that harvest sunlight at different wavelengths and at the same time protects from too much sun. These pigments offer unusual health benefits and help synthesize many enzymes necessary for regulating body metabolism. They are chlorophyll (green), carotenoids (yellow and orange) and phycocyanin (blue). SP is the richest beta carotene food, with a full spectrum of ten mixed carotenoids which work synergistically to enhance antioxidant protection. It has one of nature’s highest level of chlorophyll (1%), known for cleansing and detoxifying. Phycocyanin is unique to SP; it builds both red and white blood cells, boosts immune system and protects liver and kidney from toxic chemicals and oxidation.

Studies on Animals and in Labs

Test tube and animal studies suggested that Spirulina has much potent properties. Herewith a summarized list:

•  Activates many of the natural killer cells (NK cells) that can help fight cancer cells, including macrophages, T-cells, and B-cells

•   These interferon cells can also help fight other viral illnesses, including, flu, herpes, mumps, measles and HIV

•   Enhance the body’s ability to generate new blood cells, including bone marrow stem cells, spleen and thymus glands

•   Act as an phyto-antioxidant with radical scavenging properties to DNA cells and organs

•   Reduce pre-oxidative level in skeletal muscle damage and fatigue

•   Suppresses tumor formations

•   Has anti-inflammatory compound that can control arthritics and ulcerative colitis

•   Improve liver lipid profile including lowering cholesterol and LCL

•   Prevent fatty liver by lowering triglycerides

•   Protect the liver and kidney from toxic chemicals and oxidative stress

•   Promote digestion and bowel function

•   Suppress bad bacteria and stimulate the growth of probiotics

•   Unique polysaccharides enhance cell nucleus enzyme activity and potentiate DNA repair process

•   Regulate blood sugar level

•   Improve heart artery function and lower blood pressure

•   Counter allergic reactions including hay fever, hives, and sinus allergy

•   Contain vital nutrition for normal bodily functions

In 2009, the first study of the in vivo chemopreventive effect of SP was conducted. The study investigated the effect against rat liver toxicity and carcinogenesis induced by DBN precursors. The incidence of liver tumors was significantly reduced from 80 to 20% by SP, suggesting that SP is a protective phyto-antioxidant against liver toxicity and an anti-tumor agent. It has potential use for chemo-therapy of liver carcinoma.

Nevertheless, the above study results do not necessarily translate into human benefits though some of the findings coincided with that of the human studies. More clinical trials are needed to understand the efficacy of SP.

If you like to have the scientific references of the above studies, feel free to email me.