Spirulina spurs hope: research suggests that spirulina may prevent mouth cancer - blue-green algae - Supplements

Vegetarian Times, April, 1996 by Amy O'Connor

SPIRULINA ENTHUSIASTS will be delighted to learn that a clinical trial published in the Winter issue of Nutrition and Cancer pinpoints a significant, proven benefit to taking the supplement: Spirulina can prevent and even reverse certain types of cancer, especially among populations without access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

The first human study evaluating spirulina as a potential cancer-preventing agent in humans was conducted on 60 tobacco chewers in Kerala, India, a rural fishing village. Oral leukoplakia, a pre-cancerous mouth lesion, rarely subsides by itself. But researchers observed a complete regression of these lesions among 45 percent of subjects fed 1 gram (g.) of spirulina per day for one year. The same results were seen in only 7 percent of tobacco chewers fed a placebo. Within one year of discontinuing the treatment, 45 percent of the original group fed spirulina supplements experienced a recurrence of oral leukoplakia.

Further evidence emerged in January, when the Russian government awarded a patent to Grodenski State Medical University in Russia to use spirulina as a treatment for children exposed to high levels of radiation. Russian studies found that the children fed 5 g. of spirulina per day experienced less radiation sickness and fewer allergies than a control group. The studies were initiated when American and Japanese companies donated spirulina supplements to the Russian government after the 1990 Chernobyl disaster.

The buzz around spirulina, a popular food supplement, can be divided into truth and hype. First the truth: Spirulina is probably safe, even at high doses (another species of blue-green algae, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, can produce toxic strains). It is also a rich source of proteins, carotenoids and other micronutrients.

Now for the hype: Some fans claim spirulina (Spirulina fusiformis) increases energy, enhances the immune system, boosts sexual prowess and even helps take off unwanted pounds. To date, there is no scientific evidence to support any of these claims.

Padmanabhon P. Nair, Ph.D, a researcher with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville, Md., and one of the Indian study's authors, says there is no evidence that spirulina has toxic side effects, unlike many cancer treatments. The algae supplements are also rich in beta carotene and many other carotenoids, meaning they may be more effective than any single vitamin or other supplement. But unlike other carotenoid-rich foods, such as leafy green and root vegetables, spirulina algae flourishes in the highly alkaline lakes of Africa, Asia and Mexico, and may be a good source of nutrients for people who don't have easy access to fresh vegetables.