Benefit of Spirulina platensis

Two New Age foods which contain high concentrations of whole food nutrients are the single-celled microalgae Chlorella and Spirulina platensis. Chlorella and spirulina platnesis algae are accepted as functional foods, which are defined as products derived from natural sources, whose consumption is likely to benefit human health. These foods are used as a supplement or ingredient or as a complete food to enhance the performance and state of the human body, or improve a specific bodily function. Functional foods are used mainly as products to nourish the human body after physical exertion or as a preventive measure against ailments. Spirulina platensis contains unusually high levels of gamma-linolenic acid, an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid. You can find spirulina in a weight loss product called Diet Rx pill.

Source Naturals Spirulina platensis, Hawaiian

For over 30 years spirulina ( Spirulina platensis ) has been the premier choice for supplementing a vegetarian diet. Source Naturals Spirulina platensis is of the highest quality available. This special blue-green algae is a good source of numerous vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and essential fatty acids that are hard to maintain at adequate levels with a vegetarian diet. Most notable is the high quality protein, which contains all nine essential amino acids. Spirulina cell walls do not contain cellulose to slow down digestion. Source Naturals Spirulina is naturally grown and harvested without herbicides or pesticides.

Suggested Use: 1 to 4 spirulina tablets daily with meals. Take a week off from use each month.

Benefit of Spirulina platensis for blood cholesterol
Hypocholesterolemic effect of spirulina in patients with hyperlipidemic nephrotic syndrome.
J Med Food. 2002 Summer;5(2):91-6. Department of Foods and Nutrition, M S University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
In nephrotic syndrome, large amounts of plasma proteins are lost in urine, causing a decrease in the plasma oncotic pressure. This leads to enhanced hepatic synthesis of albumin and other proteins, including lipoproteins, causing a secondary hyperlipidemia. In this study 23 patients (age 2 to 13 years) with nephrotic syndrome received either medication (group I) or medication plus 1 gram a day Spirulina. It can be concluded that spirulina capsules, rich in antioxidants, GLA, amino acids, and fatty acids, helped reduce the increased levels of lipids in patients with hyperlipidemic nephrotic syndrome.

Benefit of Spirulina platensis in preventing muscle damage during heavy exercise
Preventive effects of Spirulina platensis on skeletal muscle damage under exercise-induced oxidative stress.
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2006 Sep;98(2):220-6. Sport Science Research Center, National Taiwan College of Physical Education, Taichung, Taiwan.
The benefit of spirulina supplementation on preventing skeletal muscle damage on untrained human beings were examined. Sixteen students volunteered to take Spirulina platensis in addition to their normal diet for 3-weeks. The results showed that plasma concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly decreased after supplementation with spirulina. The activity of blood superoxide dismutase (SOD) was significantly raised after supplementation with spirulina or soy protein. Both of the blood glutathione peroxidaes (GPx) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were significantly different between spirulina and soy protein supplementation. In addition, the lactate concentration was higher and the time to exhaustion was significantly extended in the spirulina trail. These results suggest that ingestion of Spirulina platensis showed preventive effect of the skeletal muscle damage and that probably led to postponement of the time of exhaustion during the all-out exercise.

Benefit of Spirulina platensis for allergic rhinitis
Effects of a Spirulina-based dietary supplement on cytokine production from allergic rhinitis patients.
J Med Food. 2005 Spring;8(1):27-30. Mao TK, Van de Water J, Gershwin ME. Division of Rheumatology/Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, School of Medicine, Davis, California, USA.
We evaluated the impact of a Spirulina based dietary supplement (Earthrise Nutritionals, Inc., Irvine, CA) on patients with allergic rhinitis by assessing the production of cytokines [interleukin (IL)-4, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and IL-2] critical in regulating immunoglobulin E-mediated allergy. These results indicate that Spirulina can modulate the Th profile in patients with allergic rhinitis by suppressing the differentiation of Th2 cells mediated, in part, by inhibiting the production of IL-4. To our knowledge, this is the first human feeding study that demonstrates the beenfit of spirulina towards allergic rhinitis.

Benefit of Spirulina platensis for DNA protection
Protective effect of Spirulina fusiformis on chemical-induced genotoxicity in mice.
Fitoterapia. 2004 Jan;75(1):24-31.
Spirulina fusiformis given by oral route to mice at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg kg(-1) significantly inhibit the genotoxicity induced by cisplatin and urethane. In addition, a significant reduction in the extent of lipid peroxidation with concomitant increase in the liver enzymatic (GPx, GST, SOD, CAT) and non-enzymatic (reduced glutathione) antioxidants were observed with spirulina. benefit of spirulina

Benefit of Spirulina platensis for blood cell membrane fluidity
Effects of spirulina on serum lipids, erythrocyte membrane fluidity and vascular endothelial cells in tail-suspended rats
Space Med Med Eng (Beijing). 2003 Jun;16(3):184-6.
Objective: To study the changes of erythrocyte membrane fluidity, serum lipid and vascular endothelial cell caused by simulated weightlessness in rats and the beneficial effect of spirulina. Method: Thirty male SD rats were divided into 3 groups: free control group (group A) and two simulated weightlessness groups (groups B, C). Rats in group A and B were fed with normal forage, and the rats in group C were fed with normal forage supplemented with 5% (W/W) spirulina. Result: Levels of serum CHO, HDL, TG, HDL-C/CHO and erythrocyte membrane fluidity decreased significantly, and number of vascular endothelial cells in plasma increased markedly in group B as compared with those in group A; The ratio of LDL-C/HDL-C, and atherosclerosis index (AI) decreased, number of vascular endothelial cells significantly lowered; level of CHO, HDL-C and value of the IDmax of plasma as well as erythrocyte membrane fluidity remarkedly increased in group C with spirulina compared with those in group B. Conclusion: Spirulina can improve the physiological conditions of erythrocyte membrane fluidity, serum lipid and vascular endothelial cell caused by simulated weightlessness in rats.

Availability of Spirulina platensis
Spirulina platensis is available as a tablet and you can also find spirulina powder. Sometimes you can find a combination chlorella spirulina product.

Benefit of Spirulina platensis Emails
Q. I have been consuming Spirulina product over the past few months. I recently came across some articles which warned that the benefits of Spirulina claimed by manufacturers have not had much evidence behind them but on the contrary there may be ill effects as Spirulina may contain toxins and heavy metals. I feel concerned after reading the articles. I would like to ask if you can provide assurance to users that spirulina products are safe to consume and that there will be no toxic effects from consuming Spirulina. Thank you.
   A. We cannot claim that any supplement is safe for long term use. There just isn't enough known about long term benefit of spirulina or potential harm. People should take breaks from the use of supplements just in case there's something harmful going on that we don't know about. By taking breaks from use, we can get many benefits from spirulina and from other supplements, and minimize risks.

Q. I love Diet Rx product but I do take additional spirulina each day. Therefore, I was hoping you could tell me either how much is in each serving? I would like to continue to take Diet Rx product but do not want to overdose on the benefits of spirulina.
   A. The amount of spirulina found in Diet Rx is significantly less than that obtained from a tablet or a scoop of spirulina. There is no percent daily value for spirulina. We do not feel there is a problem with excess spirulina intake through Diet Rx supplement use.