Concerted Action for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Assessment in the Cancer Field (CAM-Cancer) www.cam-cancer.

org

Project initiated under the European Commission 5th Framework Program "Quality of Life", now hosted by the National Information Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Troms, Norway.

Scientific Co-ordinator Barbara Wider contact@cam-cancer.org.

Written by Karen Pilkington and the CAM-Cancer Consortium.

Updated February 28, 2017
Spirulina (blue-green
algae)

Abstract and key points

Spirulina refers to various species of
blue-green algae found naturally in lakes
and grown commercially.
It is used as a food colouring and is taken
orally as a nutritional supplement in
tablet, capsule or dried powder form.
It is claimed to have immune-stimulating
effects and to be beneficial in a wide
range of diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, viral infections and cancer.
Spirulina are species of blue-green algae used in
food colouring.
Evidence of effectiveness in cancer is extremely
limited.
Few serious adverse effects have been reported with
products guaranteed to be free from contamination
with microcystins.

Effects on the immune system have been observed in pre-clinical studies and small trials in healthy
volunteers and possible protective effects against chemotherapy toxicity have been reported in animal
models. One small clinical trial in leukoplakia reported better response (improvement of lesions) to a years
treatment with spirulina than to placebo.

Few adverse effects have been reported with spirulina products. Some blue-algae products have been found
to be contaminated with hepatotoxic microcystins and will not be as safe as pure spirulina supplements.

Evidence of beneficial effects in cancer is extremely limited but spirulina is generally well-tolerated.
Reliable evidence on safety in pregnancy and breast-feeding is not available.

Read about the regulation, supervision and reimbursement of herbal medicine at NAFKAMs website CAM
Regulation.

What is it?

Description

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Spirulina is a microscopic, filamentous, blue-green algae used as a nutritional supplement. Its name derived
from the fact that the filaments are spiral.1,2

Scientific and other names

Scientific names: Spirulina maxima; Spirulina platensis, Spirulina maxima, Spirulina pacifica (also known
as Arthrospira platensis, Arthrospira maxima); Brand and common names: Blue Green Algae,
Cyanobacteria, SBGA, Spiralyne, Spirulina Blue-Green Algae, Spiruline.3

Ingredient(s)/Components

The constituents of spirulina include protein (50-70%) including all essential amino-acids, essential fatty
acids, polysaccharides, B vitamins particularly vitamin B12, beta-carotene and minerals particularly iron.1-3

Application and dosage

Spirulina is taken orally, as capsules, tablets, powder or as flakes either dried or freeze-dried form.4 Varied
doses have been used in clinical studies; a dose of 1g per day was used to treat oral leukoplakia 5 while
400mg/day of an enriched spirulina extract was used to enhance natural killer cell activity in healthy
subjects.6 Standard doses of 2 to 3g per day have been recommended by manufacturers for a range of
conditions.4

History/provider(s)

Spirulina was originally harvested from lakes in parts of Africa and Mexico, dried and used as a food. 7 It
was reportedly used during the Aztec civilisation.2 It still forms an important part of the diet in several parts
of the world as a source of protein and because it lacks cellulose cell walls so is easily digested. 2 It gained
prominence more recently after it was used as a dietary supplement for astronauts on space missions.8
Commercially, spirulina species are now generally grown under controlled conditions.3 In North America,
the two most popular species, Spirulina maxima and Spirulina platensis, are cultivated in Mexico and
California respectively.4 It is also cultivated in Thailand, India, Japan and China.1

Claims of efficacy/Alleged indication(s)

Blue-green algae as a group are used as nutritional supplements due their high protein and vitamin and iron
content.3 They are also used for promoting weight loss. Spriulina has been used as a general
immunostimulant and it has been suggested that it could be taken to prevent and treat cancer and viral
infections.9 A wide range of other uses have been proposed: these include the treatment of anxiety and
depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cardiovascular disease including raised cholesterol

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levels, diabetes, fatigue, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and the promotion of digestion and bowel health.3
A review published in 2011 concluded that multiple studies on the efficacy of spirulina in several diseases
had been conducted and it may have anticancer, antiviral and anti-allergic effects.2

Mechanism(s) of action

Sprirulina can be used simply as a protein supplements but it is also considered to have specific effects on
the immune system although the potential mechanism of action on the immune system is not fully
understood. Preliminary studies in healthy humans suggest that spirulina increases the production of the
cytokines, tumour necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)-2, and interferon, and causes CD4+ T-helper cell
proliferation.10,11 It also appears to increase the activity and cytotoxicity of natural killer cells.6 Animal
studies have demonstrated chemoprotective effects when spirulina is given with various cytotoxic drugs.12
-14 Several animal studies have investigated the potential of spirulina to have a protective effect against
toxicity related to various cytotoxic agents, such as doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity 13 and
cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.12,14 Beneficial effects have been reported although it is unclear if these
findings will translate into clinical use.

Prevalence of use

Spirulina was not among those supplements reported in European surveys on the use of complementary
medicine by breast, colorectal or lung cancer patients.15-17 Therefore, the prevalence of use in Europe is
unclear. It is widely used by cancer populations in South East Asia with surveys revealing it is one of the
most frequently used supplements.18,19

Legal issues

Spirulina is widely available as a food and is found as an additive (food colouring) in many foodstuffs. A
survey in 2007 revealed that the legal situation regarding spirulina varied across the 27 member states of the
European Union, with many countries allowing use as a food supplement, but several restricting or
prohibiting use as a food supplement or medicinal use.20

Cost(s) and expenditures

Typical costs for tablets range between 10 and 35 (12 to 30 Euros) per 100 for 500mg tablets while the
cost of the powder is in the region of 6 to 8 (8 to 10 Euros) per 100g based on costs advertised on the
websites from the UK and Europe in 2013 The cost per day based on the standard dose of 2-3g per day
would be 0.75 to 1 Euro per day.

Does it work?

Systematic reviews, meta-analyses

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No systematic reviews of spirulina have been published.

Narrative reviews

One review concluded that spirulina species are capable of inhibiting carcinogenesis due to anti-oxidant
properties.1

Clinical trials

A clinical trial of 1g/day of Spirulina fusiformis for chemoprevention of oral cancer was reported in 1995.5
The trial was conducted over the course of 12 months in pan tobacco chewers in Kerala, India who were
suffering from oral leucoplakia (a pre-cancerous condition). Complete regression of lesions was observed in
45% (20 of 44 subjects) whose diet was supplemented with spirulina. This compared favourably with those
receiving placebo: only 3 of 43 (7%) showed a complete regression in lesions (p < 0.0001). The response
appeared to be greater in those with homogeneous lesions. Increased serum concentrations of retinol or
beta-carotene were not observed nor was toxicity reported. Sixty people received the spirulina but it appears
that the control group was a group who had been randomised to the placebo arm of another study and there
were some differences between groups at baseline. Assessment of response was carried out by a physician
and a dentist who were unaware of the allocated treatment group but it is unclear to what extent the spirulina
and placebo capsules were well-matched. Only the results from those completing the study were included
(44 and 43 respectively) in the final analysis. Muscular pain and headaches were reported by 7 and 5
patients taking spirulina and no adverse events were reported by those in the placebo group.

A spirulina product, which apparently has enhanced activity, was used in a pilot study in the USA in 10
healthy individuals.6 After 7 days of the supplement (400mg per day), increased cytotoxic activity of natural
killer cells was observed. A separate placebo-controlled study was also conducted. This study involved 11
healthy Danish participants who were randomised to receive 200mg spirulina, 400mg spirulina or placebo
daily each for one week with 3.5 week washout periods between treatments.6 Enhanced natural killer cell
activity was again reported after 7 days treatment. Increased T-cell proliferation and interferon production
has also been reported in studies in humans.10,11 These studies all suffer from very small numbers of
participants (maximum of 12) and were conducted in healthy subjects, therefore the results can only be
considered as preliminary.

Is it safe?

Adverse events

Few adverse effects are caused by good quality blue-green algae products (see Warnings).3 Contamination
has been reported of some spirulina products which will affect the products safety. A recent review of
safety by the US Pharmacopeia Dietary Supplements Information Expert Committee considered a total of 31
adverse events reported in relation to spirulina.21 Side effects reported in clinical trials include
gastro-intestinal problems such as diarrhoea and flatulence.3 Headaches and general muscular aches were

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reported by some patients in one trial although it uncertain whether these were due to spirulina.5 One case of
anaphylaxis 22 and one of acute rhabdomyolysis have also been reported.23 The latter resolved after
discontinuation of the supplement.

Contraindications

There is a lack of reliable information on safety in pregnancy or breast-feeding.3 Long-term use of Spirulina
supplements by the mother was found to be related to hypercalcaemia in a newborn baby who developed
generalised seizures.24

Interactions

There is a theoretical interaction between blue-green algae and immunosuppressant drugs due to the possible
immune-stimulating effects of the algae.3

Warnings

Blue-green algae products have been found to be contaminated with potent toxins known as microcystins.3
,9 Contamination may be more likely for algae grown in natural settings rather than under controlled co
nditions as is usually the case for commercially available spirulina products.3 Microcystins can cause
hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity 9 which may be fatal, particularly in children who are more
sensitive to the toxic effects.3 Symptoms of poisoning including abdominal pain and distention, nausea,
vomiting, weakness, excessive thirst, rapid and weak pulse and shock, generally occur between 30 minutes
and 24 hours after ingestion.3 Recent toxicology studies found some blue-algae products available in
Germany and Italy to be contaminated but the affected products were those containing a species other than
spirulina.25,26 It has been recommended that products should be certified to be free of contamination.9

Citation
Karen Pilkington, CAM-Cancer Consortium. Spirulina (blue-green algae) [online document].
http://www.cam-cancer.org/The-Summaries/Herbal-products/Spirulina-blue-green-algae. February 28,
2017.

Document history

Assessed as up to date in January 2015 by Barbara Wider.

Assessed as up to date in January 2015 by Barbara Wider.
Summary first published in April 2013, authored by Karen Pilkington.

References

1. Khan Z, Bhadouria P and Bisen PS. Nutritional and Therapeutic Potential of Spirulina. Current
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 2005, 6, 373-379.

2.

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 2. Karkos PD, Leong SC, Karkos CD, Sivaji N, Assimakopoulos DA. Spirulina in clinical practice:
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3. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database: professional version. Blue green algae monograph.
Stockton (CA): Therapeutic Research Faculty. Available at:
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4. University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Complementary medicine: Spirulina 2011.
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2017.
5. Mathew, B., R. Sankaranarayanan, P. P. Nair, C. Varghese, T. Somanathan, B. P. Amma, N. S. Amma
and M. K. Nair. Evaluation of chemoprevention of oral cancer with Spirulina fusiformis. Nutrition
and Cancer 1995 24: 197-202
6. Nielsen, C. H., P. Balachandran, O. Christensen, N. D. Pugh, H. Tamta, K. J. Sufka, X. Wu, A.
Walsted, M. Schjorring-Thyssen, C. Enevold and D. S. Pasco. Enhancement of natural killer cell
activity in healthy subjects by Immulina(R), a Spirulina extract enriched for Braun-type lipoproteins.
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immune system by Spirulina: augmentation of interferon production and NK cytotoxicity by oral
administration of hot water extract of Spirulina platensis. Int Immunopharmacol. 2002 2(4): 423-434.
11. Lobner, M., A. Walsted, R. Larsen, K. Bendtzen and C. H. Nielsen. Enhancement of human adaptive
immune responses by administration of a high-molecular-weight polysaccharide extract from the
cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis. J Med Food 2008 11(2): 313-322.
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supplemention in cisplatin toxicity. Food Funct. 2012 3(2): 164-169.
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Kutala. Protective effect of Spirulina against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. Phytother.Res 2005
19(12): 1030-1037.
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European countries. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2006 Feb;12(1):34-9. Epub 2005 Nov 14.
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Legal notice
The present documentation has been compiled by the CAM-CANCER Project with all due care and expert knowledge.
However, the CAM-CANCER Project provides no assurance, guarantee or promise with regard to the correctness,
accuracy, up-to-date status or completeness of the information it contains. This information is designed for health
professionals. Readers are strongly advised to discuss the information with their physician. Accordingly, the
CAM-CANCER Project shall not be liable for damage or loss caused because anyone relies on the information.

Please visit the CAM-Cancer website for more information about the project:

www.cam-cancer.org

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