Is Spirulina just “scum” by another name?

Article By Mark Timon, M.S. Clin. Nut. 20 November 2009

I have been asked to examine some information that has lately been poured into our industry. Before I get into it, please be aware that all too often someone with a commercial goal to achieve, will feed flawed information (i.e. disinformation), or downright fabrications, into our natural products industry that are designed to establish the person or his/her company as a supreme authority to be respected, and honored with cash outlays by the consumer. So please, please, read and listen with a discerning mind to all the information available to you today.

The nutritional value of Spirulina and the cleanliness of Spirulina production has been brought into question through a stew of metaphorical images to designed to malign Spirulina as a filthily produced, contaminated algae that is dangerous to ingest. It is simply not true.

Let’s examine the manipulative statements, “Just think of what they [algae] really are: the scum you see growing on the surface of stagnant ponds and lakes.  Toxins in algae have been shown to harm the liver and nervous system, and one seems to spur tumor growth in animals.”

Spirulina and other algae may have been discovered in stagnant pools – or not. But today Spirulina and Chlorella are cultivated in circulating raceways and pharmaceutically pure spherical chambers respectively in order to produce clean, edible food products. The nutrient mix fed into the moving water system is calculated to enhance growth of algae rich in essential nutrients. Microbiological and heavy metal analyses are performed on each production batch to assure that they are not contaminated. Indeed, a reputable company would not buy the materials without these verifying assays. The Chlorella purchased and used in Vibrant health products is even classified as “pharmaceutically pure.”

Regarding the second statement, toxins have indeed been found in certain algae, most notably Klamath blue-green algae (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae) which is still harvested from the lake itself. Unfortunately, in that case, there is a similar algae with toxic properties that has several times intimated itself into the harvests of safe Aphanizomenon flos-aquae algae, leading to several recalls of batches of Klamath blue-green algae by the companies that market it.

Other algae have been shown to contain β-Methylamino-L-alanine, or BMAA, a neurotoxin. This non-proteinogenic amino acid (very similar to the non-essential amino acid alanine) is produced by cyanobacteria in the plant. However, Spirulina and chlorella do not produce or contain BMAA. It is genetically impossible for them to do so.

Let’s now turn to this comment: “Algae supplements do contain vitamin B12, which is not found in veggies…. it is made by bacteria that get into the algae via bird feathers and droppings.

Commercial quantities of vitamin B12 that you might find in a multi-vitamin tablet can be (and usually are) produced by “bacterial fermentation.” So the concept that B12 can be synthesized by specific bacteria is accurate. However, the amount of B12 in algae varies among the species, indicating that the plant itself makes the B12. As far as Spirulina is concerned, the claim that bacteria from bird droppings is the source of its B12 are beyond ludicrous. Modern, commercial production methods have replaced harvesting from natural lakes and ponds, in western countries. The modern safeguards employed in growing today’s Spirulina preclude such contamination, and deliver to all of us certified organic Spirulina with rich nutrient levels that is free of bacterial contamination, and any significant level of heavy metals. .

Moving on to the next bit of disinformation, we can find the advice , “"to avoid green powders with algae, mushrooms, or probiotics.  The probiotics are bacteria and sometimes ferment the green grasses in the formula, making it acidic.  Probiotics are helpful supplements, but only when used properly on their own". 

The above comments are completely out of touch with the technical aspects of the production of algae, mushroom and mushroom extracts and probiotics. There are tremendously healthful attributes to each, and the advanced technologies applied to the manufacture of each prevent contamination. Probiotics MIGHT cause some fermentation if the grass powders in which they were blended were damp, but they are not. Cereal grass powders and juice powders are customarily less than 5% moisture. In environments at 5% or lower, probiotics will remain inactive. The grasses and grass juice powders must remain dry, or they can rot and mold on their own accord due to the presence of natural enzymes and microbes in the plant materials that would become activated in a moister environment.

Finally, the concept that “… you may take lactobacillus and bifidobacterium separately, as they can cancel each other out if taken together.” is just wrong. I don’t know from where this piece of disinformation originated, but it has never been correct no matter which marketing company has put it forward over the last 20 years. The amount of scientific literature demonstrating the value of blends of multiple strains of lacto and bifido bacteria is quite substantial. Promoters of the separation concept should read some of it.

It is more useful to know when to take probiotic supplements. They should be used 30 to 45 minutes after a meal, when stomach pH is highest, in order to assure maximum survival and implantation. Probiotics can survive a pH of 3.5 or higher, and stomach contents after a meal usually exceed that level.

So be careful what you believe. And be open to changing your beliefs in the face of new, and sometimes contrary, facts.