Spirulina

[Research123]

I bought a big bag of this to add to my breakfast smoothie (strawberries, raw broccoli, nuts, flaxseed), been enjoying it then read may be good or bad as it stimulates the immune system. Anyone any thought/,opinions etc?

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

Basically, there are voiced suspicions in research papers that spirulina may cause an increase in B lymphocyte counts, (such as antibody count improvements), but more research is needed. It might be as simple as spirulina addressing poor nutrition issues, but as I've said many times previously, when I've managed to track down good evidence behind claims for immune system boosting supplements, it's evidence for increased lymphocyte growth and activity.

I presume you aren't using huge quantities, but keep an eye out for trend changes in your absolute lymphocyte count, just to be sure.

Neil

[cajunjeff]

While a lot of alternative health sites who sell such products promote the health benefits of spirulina, like most similar supplements, its not sufficiently studied to be considered safe by the scientific community Since it is unregulated, the quality and safety from one manufacturer to the next is unknown. Here are wiki excerpts on spirula safety concerns, note the possible adverse interactions with immunotherapy drugs:

Research

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, scientific evidence is insufficient to recommend spirulina supplementation for any human condition, and more research is needed to clarify whether consumption yields any benefits.[1] Administration of spirulina has been investigated as a way to control glucose in people with diabetes, but the European Food Safety Authority rejected those claims in 2013.[43] Spirulina has been studied as a potential nutritional supplement for adults and children affected by HIV, but there was no conclusive effect on risk of death, body weight, or immune response.[44][45]

Risks

Spirulina may have adverse interactions when taken with prescription drugs, particularly those affecting the immune system and blood clotting.[1]

Safety and toxicology

Spirulina is a cyanobacterium, others of which produce toxins such as microcystins.[46] Some spirulina supplements have been found to be contaminated with microcystins, albeit at levels below the limit set by the Oregon Health Department.[47] Microcystins can cause gastrointestinal upset, such as diarrhea, flatulence, headache, muscle pain, facial flushing, and sweating.[1][46] If used chronically, liver damage may occur.[1] The effects of chronic exposure to even low levels of microcystins are a concern due to the risk of toxicity to several organ systems.[

Heavy-metal contamination of spirulina supplements has also raised concern. The Chinese State Food and Drug Administration reported that lead, mercury, and arsenic contamination was widespread in spirulina supplements marketed in China.[50] One study reported the presence of lead up to 5.1 ppm in a sample from a commercial supplement.[4] Spirulina doses of 10 to 19 grams per day over several months have been used safely.[1]

Safety issues for certain target groups

Like all protein-rich foods, spirulina contains the essential amino acid phenylalanine (2.6–4.1 g/100 g),[5] which should be avoided by people who have phenylketonuria, a rare genetic disorder that prevents the body from metabolizing phenylalanine, which then builds up in the brain, causing damage.[51]

Microcystins have various potential toxicity, especially to children and pregnant women,[52] including liver damage, shock, and death.[1]

In 2024, a literature review on the allergic properties of spirulina was published. It was noted that to date (by July 2023), there have been 5 cases of allergy to spirulina, with 4 out of 5 cases resulting in anaphylaxis according to the classification from the World Allergy Organization's Anaphylaxis Guidance of 2020. Based on their research findings, instances of spirulina allergy are infrequently reported or identified., potentially due to spirulina's ability to inhibit mast cell degranulation, a critical component of allergic reactions.[53]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiru...

[Research123 in reply to cajunjeff]

Thank you to both Jeff and Neil very much. I thought I couldn't go too far wrong with some green stuff - I was thinking super-broccoli - but apparently not! I now have to figure out what to do with the one kilo bag I bought of it..... Anyway that's a better problem than risking a further potential spike in my numbers.....

[craterlake in reply to Research123]

it depends on the source of the spirulina and how much you take per day ... it may have very little effect on you ALC ..are you wanting to experiment on yourself .. have you tried it already with no allergic reaction ??? i quit putting it in my health drink simply because i did not like the smell .or taste ..and if you were able to afford a kilo bag you are either well off financially or it is junky spirulina ... now i add either barley green or wheat grass to my health drink it taste better also ... keep drinking your smoothies your body will like you for it ... i would take LeoPa's comment with a grain of salt .. they did not have cars , airplanes , or this internet either but we all benefit from them now ...😉 blessings , james

[LeoPa]

Yes I have a thought but you will not like it 😄. Most probably no human ever ate spirulina during our evolution, so why would you? Most of the ingredients in your smoothie did not even exist a few thousand years ago not to mention during our evolution as a species. So how could it be good for one's health to eat and drink those things?

[Eucalyptus22]

My only knowledge about spirulina is that I have been advised by Addon Heath ( oncologist USA) to not take spirulina. I had a personalised food plan drawn up that I have been following for 3 years. It is on the list of food items to not take. Kate

[Astro617]

I stopped using it. NutritionFacts.org is run by a physician who does not sell anything and he does a good job of analyzing various scientific studies. nutritionfacts.org/topics/b....

[MaxSmart in reply to Astro617]

If I understood it correctly, this article actually says that spirulina is safe as long as it’s third-party tested. “Although the U. S. Pharmacopeia’s safety evaluation of spirulina concludes that “the available evidence does not indicate a serious risk to health or other public health concern when spirulina is properly identified, formulated, and used,” consumers should be advised to choose spirulina supplements with third party testing.”