Originally published May 22 2005
Spirulina makers request toxin test
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Cyanotech and Earthrise Nutritionals, producers of the microalgae spirulina, expressed surprise that their product was not among those tested in a recent study suggesting the potential toxin BMAA is present in diverse cyanobacteria groups, and have consequently commissioned tests themselves in order to reassure customers of the safety of their product. The original microalgea study was published in the April 2005 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Spirulina, rich in beta carotene, iron, vitamin B12 and gamma linolenic acid, is consumed by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide and has a long record of safe human use. Cyanotech chairmen Gerald Cysewski called the omission of spirulina from the original study "unfortunate."
The study, published in the April 2005 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS 102: 5074-5078), tested 30 different types of cyanobacteria tested for neurotoxin amino acid BMAA (beta-N-methylamino-L-Alanine) presence, identity and purity using liquid chromatography-MS.
Ninety-seven percent of the free-living cyanobacteria strain and 73 percent of the strains isolated from symbiosis were shown to produce BMAA.
But the researchers, led by Dr Paul Cox of California State University's Institute for Ethnomedicine and Department of Biological Science, did not test spirulina, a microalgae rich in beta carotene, iron, vitamin B12 and gamma linolenic acid that is consumed by hundreds of thousands of people around the world.
Cyanotech chairman, president and CEO Gerald Cysewski told NutraIngredients-USA.com that the omission was "unfortunate" -- even though the study was carried out on live laboratory cultures of cyanobacteria, making it impossible to draw a correlation with spirulina dietary supplements.
In the meantime, the companies issued a joint statement saying: "We have not received any complaint concerning health problems related to neurological conditions.
On the contrary, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of spirulina have been demonstrated in several animal studies.
Not only does spirulina have a long history of safe human use by the Aztecs in Mexico and the Kanembu in Chad, but it a study carried out by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization using rats and mice where spirulina made up between 10 and 35 percent of the diet found no causal link with second- or third-generation reproductive function or cancer, or presence of heavy metals, nucleic acids, pesticides or bacteria.
It has been determined GRAS by scientific procedures and FDA review.
Cyanotech and Earthrise also point out that the connection between BMAA and Alzheimer's disease is far from certain, and that some experts have expressed reservations.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml