Health Benefits of Spirulina

Spirulina is a type of blue-green algae. The name is derived from a cyanobacterium with filamentous, microscopic structures. The filamentous structure is spiral or helical nature. Since Aztec civilization, Spirulina has used as food and thus it has a long history of human-edible. Spirulina is an aquatic product and obtained from an oxygenic photosynthetic bacterium known as the of Arthrospira platensis. Dried biomass of this bacterium is referred to as Spirulina, which is found both in fresh and marine waters.

The cultivation of Spirulina is not involved in complicated agriculture steps. However, the alkaline lakes with the highest pH are the favorable condition to flourish the Spirulina. This blue-green alga is cultivated in large ponds under controlled conditions. Greece (Nigrita, Serres), Spain, Japan, India, and the United States are some few places in this world have the ideal sunny climate require for Spirulina production.

Phytochemicals present in Spirulina

Spirulina is a rich source of protein and vitamin and used as a dietary supplement for human use. This natural substance provides many health benefits without any significant side-effects. Almost 70% of protein present in Spirulina, along with this Spirulina contains many vitamins, such as B12,  β-carotenes (provitamin A), and minerals, especially iron. The phytochemicals present in Spirulina include tocopherols, phenolic acids, and γ-linolenic acid.

Mechanism of action of Spirulina

The anti-inflammatory effect of this alga is obtained due to the following pathways:

• It reduces lipopolysaccharide synthesis, suppresses the expression of TNFα. Thus, it inhibits the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
• Spirulina modulates histone deacetylases in macrophages and alters histone H3 acetylation pathways. This alteration inhibits the activity of NF-κB and decreases the activity of Il-1β and tumor necrosis factor α promoters. Thus Spirulina provides an anti-inflammatory effect.
• Spirulina inhibits cytokines and regulates immunoglobulin which helps to control allergic reactions, including allergic rhinitis.
• Spirulina acts as an immunomodulator by altering the T-cells production, cytokines, secretory IgA antibody response, and NK-cell activity.
• A sulfated polysaccharide, calcium spirulan (Ca-Sp) present in Spirulina has antiviral property. 
• The active phytochemicals of Spirulina include phycocyanin, β-carotene exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
• The anti-oxidant property of Spirulina is obtained by decreasing nitrite production, nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) suppression, and liver microsomal lipid peroxidation inhibition.
• The anti-inflammatory property of Spirulina is obtained by inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines like TNFα formation, suppression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and reduction of prostaglandin E(2) production.

Different Dosage forms 

Nowadays, Spirulina is used as a dietary supplement and different dosage forms including tablets, health drinks are available in health food stores. These microalgae containing dietary supplements are used by the consumers for more than 10 years without any noteworthy side effect.

Spirulina has multiple health benefits including controlling cholesterol level, blood pressure, blood glucose, muscle mass development and treating fatty liver. The dose of Spirulina depends upon body weight and the physiological requirement. For example 10.9 gm /day is recommended for a person with 68 kg body weight.

There are a large variety of blue-green algae species, which commonly referred to as “spirulina”. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Spirulina platensis, and/or Spirulina maxima are the most common active ingredients of spirulina containing supplements.

The different Spirulina containing dosage forms available in the market include

Spirulina Powder is one of the most commonly used dietary supplement. It absorbs faster in the blood circulation and provides many health benefits. Spirulina Powder is less processed than other forms.

Spirulina Tablets and Spirulina Capsules are also available in the market for those who do not prefer to use powder form. Both tablet and capsule provide a measured dose of supplement and effective to provide dietary benefits.

Spirulina is often available in combination with other nutrients. Some of the most common combination therapy of Spirulina with other nutritional ingredients are as follows:

Dayvital: This supplement contains multiple nutritional ingredients including Grape seed extract, Ginseng extract, L-glutamine, Spirulina, Lutein Ester, ß-carotene, Green tea extract, Chromium, Zinc, Vanadium, Tin, Silicon, Selenium, Potassium, Phosphorus, Nickel, Molybdenum, Magnesium, Iron, Iodine, Copper, Chloride, Calcium, Boron, Biotin, Vitamin K, Vitamin E, Vitamin D3, Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B1, Carbohydrates.

Fezlina: Spirulina, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Iron.

Uses of Spirulina

Allergic Rhinitis

The anti-inflammatory effect of Spirulina can be effective to treat and prevent allergic rhinitis, as it stabilizes mast cell and inhibits the histamine release. A randomized clinical trial has proven double-blind placebo-controlled trial result showed that Spirulina treatment for12 week treatment period improves allergic rhinitis. Another human trial conducted in Turkey reported that Spirulina treatment helps to provide symptomatic relief and markedly reduces sneezing, nasal discharge, itching, and nasal congestion.

Protection From Viral Infection

Spirulina has an inhibitory effect on viral replication and protected against many viral infections including measles, mumps, Herpes simplex type I, influenza A virus, human cytomegalovirus, and HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus-1 virus).

Treatment of Dyslipidemia

In dyslipidemia, the LDL: HDL ratio is significantly higher due to an increase in the level of Low-density lipoprotein (LDL). A small scale human trial result reported that Spirulina has LDL lowering effect with eight weeks of the treatment plan. Spirulina also significantly reduces triglycerides level. Thus, Spirulina is effective to control overall blood cholesterol level. A small scale clinical trial conducted in the diabetic patient with increased LDL: HDL showed that marked reduction of this ratio.

Cardiac Health Protection

Cardiac diseases like atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease have a direct relation with hyperlipidemia.  Spirulina supplementation can reduce these cardiac problems by significantly blood cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol-lowering effect, along with an increasing level of HDL cholesterol.

Inflammatory Disease Conditions

The anti-inflammatory property of Spirulina is beneficial for treating arthritis, and colitis.

Anticancer

Both immunomodulatory property and potent antioxidant capacity of Spirulina have a cancer-preventive effect. Many cancer trials conducted to evaluate the anticancer property of Spirulina. Most of these study results reported Spirulina supplementation for one year treatment period able to provide complete regression of leukoplakia.

Cognitive Health Benefits

Cognitive impairment is common with obese patients. Spirulina in combination with glycyrrhizin provides benefits against obesity-induced cognitive impairment by reducing the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) levels in the hippocampal region.

Side Effects and Precautionary Measure

Fresh and dried adulteration free Spirulina is safe and does not cause any side effects. The safety profile of Spirulina is evaluated through several toxicological studies and have evidentially proven Spirulina‘s safety. The US Food and Drug Administration has enlisted Spirulina under the category of Generally Recognized as Safe.

An animal research study conducted to evaluate the safety profile of the Spirulina. This research finding supported that this functional food has no identifiable adverse effects on reproductive performance, embryo and fetus development and growth. It neither causes any teratogenic effect.

The mercury level in Spirulina is much lower than the guidelines for daily intake recommended by WHO guidelines.

However, the food and dietary department identified some of the cyanobacterial species can produce cyanotoxin. Therefore, the experts recommended the quality evaluation of Spirulina is very important before consuming it as a dietary supplement. Consumption of certain cyanotoxins like anatoxin-a can cause acute neurotoxicity.

But experts suggested that the excessive intake of Spirulina may increase the risk of hepatotoxicity.

References

• SPIRULINA IN CLINICAL PRACTICE: EVIDENCE-BASED HUMAN APPLICATIONS. 
• ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF SPIRULINA PLATENSIS EXTRACT VIA THE MODULATION OF HISTONE DEACETYLASES. 
• HYPOLIPIDEMIC, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIINFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES OF MICROALGAE SPIRULINA.
• COMBINATION OF SPIRULINA WITH GLYCYRRHIZIN PREVENTS COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION IN AGED OBESE RATS. 
• SUMMARY OF SPIRULINA. 
• THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF SPIRULINA. 
• SPIRULINA POWDER, SPIRULINA TABLETS AND OTHER FORMS. 
• Spirulina combination – Price List of 5 Brands.