What The UN Says About Spirulina

IIMSAM INTERGOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTION FOR THE USE 

                    OF MICRO-ALGAE DPIRULINA AGAINST MALNUTRITION

INTERGOVERNMENTAL OBSERVER TO THE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL UNDER ECOSOC RESOLUTION 2003/212 DATED 5TH OF MARCH 2003.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS DESIGNATED BY ECOSOC UNDER RULE 79 OF THE RULES PROCEDURE FOR CONTINUING PARTICIPATION IN THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE COUNCIL ON QUESTIONS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THEIR ACTIVITIES.

SPIRULINA

What the UN Says About Spirulina:

• "There is need for both national governments and intergovernmental organizations to re-evaluate the potential of Spirulina to fulfill both their own food security needs as well as a tool for their overseas development emergency response efforts." 

      -The UN-Food and  Agriculture Organization (FAO) Report on Spirulina 2008

• "For WHO, Spirulina represents an interesting food for multiple reasons,rich in iron and protein, and is able to be administered to children without any risk. We at WHO consider it a very suitable food."

      -United Nations World Health Organization (WHO),Geneva, Switzerland June 8, 1993.

• Spirulina-was declared by the United Nations World Food Conference of 1974 as the best food for the future.

IIMSAM - Benefits of Spirulina 

Each day around forty thousand children die because of severe malnutrition and related diseases across the world. Malnutrition dis empowers and effects the lives of around 852 million people globally in a drastic way. According to the united Nations World Health Organization (WHO: 1996), more than the starvation the real challenge today is malnutrition-the deficiency of micro nutrients (vitamins,minerals, and essential amino acids) that no longer allows the body to ensure growth and maintain its vital functions.

Malnutrition severely diminishes the human capital of a country and its multifarious impacts hinder the universal achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Developing countries are especially vulnerable to this easily avoidable catastrophe.

Spirulina offers remarkable health benefits to an undernourished person. It is rich in beta carotene that can overcome eye problems caused by Vitamin A deficiency. The protein and B-vitamin complex makes a major nutritional improvement in an infant's diet. It is the only food source,excepts for 'milk, containing substantial amounts of an essential fatty acid GLA that helps regulate the entire hormone system.

One tablespoon a day can eliminate iron anemia, the most common mineral deficiency. Spirulina is the most digestible protein food, especially important for malnourished people whose intestines can no longer absorb nutrients effectively. Clinical studies have shown it helps rebuild healthy intestinal flora. These health benefits have made it an excellent food for rapid recovery of children from malnutrition related diseases in Mexico, Togo, Romania, China, Rwanda, Zaire, India, Ukraine and Belarus.

Spirulina is being produced in more than 22 countries and used in over 77 countries

for multiple reasons, and it is able to be administered to children without risk. Other proposed uses of Spirulina are for cancer prevention, fibromyalgia, hay fever, herpes infection, high cholesterol, hives HIV infection, liver protection, weight loss.

 Advantages of Spirulina

• Spirulina does not need fertile land for cultivation  and  therefore conserves fertile land and soil. It has over 60% protein that is higher than any other food besides benefits of rapid growth and higher yield.
• Spirulina requries less energy input per kilo than soy,corn or bovine protein. As cheap energy sources are depeted, costs of energy dependent foods will rise up with energy prices.
• Spirulina uses less water per kilo of protein than other foods as the water is recycled back to the ponds after harvesting.
• Spirulina is a big oxygen producer that is even more efficient than trees and forests to absorb Carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
• Spirulina production uses non-fertile land and brackish water and is a potent remedy to deforestation to cultivate food. As people eat a lower on the food chain, the pressures to destroy wilderness can be halted and help re-green our planet. 
• Spirulina has no externalized hidden costs interms of depletion of fresh water, fertile top soil and forest, pollution from pesticides,herbicides, and toxins. No long term medical costs from unhealthy foods with chemical additives.

"For WHO,Spirulina represents an interesting food for multiply reasons, rich in iron and protein, and is able to be administered to children without any risk. We at WHO consider it very suitable food"-United Nations World Health Organization(WHO), Geneva, Switzerland June 8th 1993

Composition of Spirulina

* includes cystine, Tbale from Busson, F., Spirulina Platensis (GOM) geitler et. Spirulina geitleri, J. Dr. Toni, Cynophycees Alimentaries,Armee Francaise, Service de Sante,Parc de Pharo, Marseill,1971

Carvohydrates, Lipids, and Vitamins;Source-SOSA TEXCOCO,Mexico


SPIRULINA-CURRENT SCENARIO ACROSS THE GLOBE
Belarus

• Spirulina-natural sorbent of radionucleides.

           by L.P Loseva and I.V Dardynkaya. Sep 1993.Research  Institute of Radiation Medicine, Mink, Belarus. 6th
           Int'l Congress of Applied Algology, Czech Republic Belarus.

Spirulina, a natural food supplement, reduced urine radioactivity levels by 50% in only 20 days. This result was achieved after  giving 5 grams a day to children at the Institute of Radiation Medicine in Minsk, Belarus.The Institute has developed a program to treat 100 childrenevery 20 days. This 1993 report confirms 1990-91 research on the beneficial health effects of spirulina on children with radiation sickness. It concludes: "Use of spirulina decreases radio action dose load received from food contaminated with  radionuclides, Cesium-137 and Strotium-90. Spiruina is favorable for normalizing the adaptive potential of children's bodies in conditions of long-lived low dose radiation."

• Spirulina platensis and specialties to support detoxifying pollutants and to strengthen the immune system.

          by L.P. Loseva, Sep 1999. Research Institute of Radiation Medicine, Minsk, Belarus. 8th Int'l Congress of Applied, Italy. Belarus

Main purpose of the study is researching the influence of spirulina platensis on the immune system on normalization of peroxide lipid oxidation and anti-oxidant activity, also on the content of long-life radionucleides. In the studies were involved children and teenagers residing in the areas with radiant pollution and people injured by the Chernobyl catastrophe. To achieve desirable results with spirulina it is recommended to take it during 3 months and if not continued, this course should be repeated in half a year again. Possible therapeutic mechanisms: a) the natural combination of nutrients supports the formations of non-absorbable complexes of radionucleides through analogues such as calcium,potassium,etc., and promotes their excretion. b)the general intake of easily digestible micro and macro elements of spirulina has a positive influence on many functions of the immune system.

China

• Spirulina in Jiangxi China. by Miao Jian Ren. 1987. Academy of Agricultural Science. Presented at Soc. Appl. Algology, Lille France Sep 1987. China

In Nanjing Childrens Hospital, 27 children, 2-6 years old, recovered in short period from bad appetite, night sweats, diarrhea and constipation from a baby nourishing formula containing 1.5g spirulina, 12g baked barley sprout, Vitamins B1 and Zinc. The clinical effects showed spirulina is a genuine healthfood for children.

• The study on curative effect of zinc containing spirulina for zinc deficient children.

          by Wen Younghuang,et al. 1994. Capital Mecial College,Beijing. Presented at 5th Int'l Phycological
          Congress,Qingdao,June 1994.China.

Spirulina with a high zinc content may be twice as effective as zinc supplement in curing zinc deficiency in children. The effective dose of zinc from spirulina was 2 to 4 times less than the zinc from a common supplement,zinc sulfate. More than two times the children were cured with high zinc spirulina. One hundred children were diagnosed as suffering from zinc deficiency. For a three month period, 50 children were given zinc sulfate and 50 were given spirulina tablets. Doctors concluded spirulina's effect was much better than zinc sulfate. Spirulina had no side effect and was easy to administer for long periods of time. they theorized that high zinc spirulina had many bioactive and nutritious substances which mineral absorption, general health and the immune system.

Democratic Republic of Congo

• Effectiveness of spirulina algae as food for children with protein-energy malnutrition in a tropical environment. by P. Bucaille.1990. University Paul ,Toulouse,France. Oct.1990.Zaire.(in French)

Germany

• Clinical and biochemical evaluations of spirulina with regard to its application in the treatment of obesity. by E.W. Becker,et al. 1986. Inst. Chem. Pfanz. Pub. in Nutrition reports Int'l Vol. 33, No. 4, pg 565. Germany.

India

• Evaluation of chemoprevention of oral caner with spirulina. by Babu, M et al. 1995. Pub. in Nutrition and Cancer, Vol. 24, No. 2, 197-201 India.

The blue-green microalgae spirulina, used in daily diets of natives in Africa and America,has been found to be rich natural source of proteins,carotenoids and  other micronutrients. Experimental studies in animal models have demonstrated and inhibitory effect of spirulina algae on oral carcinogenesis. Studies among preschool children in India have demonstrated spirulina fusiformis to be an effective source of dietary  vitamin A. We evaluated the chemoproventative activity of spirulina (1g/day for 12 months) in reversing oral leukoplakia in pan tobacco chewers in Kerala, India. Complete regression of lesions was observed in 20 of 44 (45%) evaluable subjects supplemented with spirulina, as opposed to 3 of 43 (7%) in the placebo arm. When stratified by type of leukoplakia, the response was more pronounced in homogeneous lesions: complete regression was seen in 16 of 28 (57%) subjects with homogeneous leukoplakia, 2 of 8 with erythroplakia, 2 of 4 with verrucous leukoplakia, and 0 of 4 with ulcerated and nodular lesions. Within one year of discountuing supplents, 9 of 20 (45%) complete respondents with spirulina developed  recurrent lesions. Supplementation with spirulina did not increase serum concentrations of retinal or beta carotene, nor was it associated with toxicity. This is first human study evaluating the chemopreventive potential of spirulina. More studies in different settings and different populations are needed for further evaluations.

• Bioavailability of spirulina carotenes in preschool children.

          by V. Annapurna, et al. 1991. National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India.
          J. Clin. Biochem Nutrition. 10 145-151. India.

The bio availability of total carotenes and beta carotene from spirulina was examined in apparently healthy preschool children children and found to be comparable to those values reported for other plant sources like leafy vegetables and carrots. The study also showed spirulina is a good source of Vitamin A, as there was a significant increase  in serum retinol levels. Researches concluded spirulina can be used as a source of Vitamin A in the diet, is relatively inexpensive, has higher beta carotene than any other plant source and can be cultivated throughout the year.

• Large scale nutritional supplementation with spirulina algae.

          by C.V. Seshadri. 1993. All india Coordinated Project on Spirulina.
          Shri Amm Murugappa Chettiar Researcher Center (MCRC) Madras, India.

A one year feeding program with 5,000 pre school children showed a symptom of Vitamin A deficiency, "Bitot's spot", decreased from 80% to 10%. These rural children near Madras consumed 1 gram of spirulina a day for at least 150 days.This small amount provided the daily requirement of beta carotene (Vitamin A) which can help prevent blindness and eye diseases. In another study with 400 school children, a daily dose of beta carotene from spirulina increased their Vitamin A status to the same level as those administered pure Vitamin A. Spirulina was given to children in a unique way: extruded noodles,sweetened with sugar to preserve the beta carotene.  Called "Spiru-Om", it was well accepted by the children. This project was sponsored by the Indian Government.

Japan

• Clinical experiences of administration of spirulina to patients with hupochronic anemia.by T. takeuchi, et al. 1978. Tokyo Medical and Dental Univ. Japan.

Eight woman had been limiting their meals to stay thin and were showing hypochronic anemia-lower than normal blood hemoglobin content. They took four grams of spirulina after each meal. After 30 days blood hemoglobin content. They look four grams of spirulina after meal. After 30 days blood hemoglobin content increased 21% from 10.9 to 13.2 , a satisfactory level, no longer considered anemic.

• Cholesterol lowering  effect of spirulina. by N. Nayaka, et al. 1988. Tokai Univ. Pub. in Nutrition Reports Int'l, Vol. 37, No. 6, 1329-1337 Japan.

Thirty healthy men with high cholesterol, mild hypertension and hyperlipidemia  showed lower serum cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL (undesirable fat) level after eating spirulina for eight weeks. These mean did not change their diet, except adding spirulina. No adverse effects were noted. Group A consumed 4.2 grams daily for eight weeks. Total serum cholesterol dropped a significant 4.5 % within 4 weeks from 244 to 233. Group B consumed spirulina for four weeks, then stopped. Serum cholesterol level decreased, then returned to the initial level. Researchers concluded spirulina did lower serum cholesterol and was likely to have a favorable effect on alleviating heart disease since the artreriocelosis index improved.

Macedonia

• Influence of extensive tarining on the number of erythcytes and hemoglobin level ans its correction.

          by. Z. Trojacanec et al. 1998. Institute for Medical, Experimental and Applied Physiology, Faculty of
          Medicine, Skopje, Macedonia. Pub in XXIV FIMS World Congress of SPorts Medicine, June 1998.

Extensive training processed are very often followed by changes in blood composition. There is evidence of the high correlation between the training rate and intensity of exercise and the athlete;s hipochromy. In athletes we found a characteristics non-anemic iron deficit. Our goal was to monitor the hematological parameters in athletes with hipochromy and to examine the period of correction using iron supplementation.  20 male and 20 female athletes ages 18-22 years took part in the study. Blood samples were collected and the total number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin,serum iron and the staining index were calculated. All athletes received Earth rise Spirulina tablets, containing 1.5 mg Fe2+, 3 times a day for 2 months. Monitoring was done for 3 months. Significant changes were found in the female group for hemoglobin level, as well as increase of the serum iron and staining index. Distinct rise of serum iron was observed in both male and female athletes. The clinical sysptoms such as exhaustion, muscle fatigue and somnolence disappeared after the correction of the iron deficit. Addition of Spirulina improves the prevention of non-anemic iron deficiency in athletes especially females. Improvement of the iron reserves is a simple dietary modification that can optimize athletes health and physical capacity.

Mexico

• Clinical expermintation with spirulina.

           byR. Ramos Galvan. 1973. National Institute of Nutrition, Mexico City, Mexico (in Spanish).


Romania

Observations on the utilization of spirulina as an nutritive factor in treating some diseases accompanied by a nutritional defiency. By V. Fice, et al. 1984. Clinica II Medicala, Spitalui, Clinic, Bucuresti. Med. Interna 36 (3). Romania. (In Romanian).

Spirulina tablets were given to 21 patients with various nutritional deficiencies. they had suffered weight loss in conjunction with gastric resection, tubercular infection, chronic pamcreatitis and gastritis, rheumatoid arthritis,anemia and diabetes mellitus. With spirulina the patients gained weight and their protein grams improved.

Russia

• Means to normalize the levels of immunoglobulin E, using the food supplement Spirulina. by L. Evets, et al. 1994. Grodenski state Medical Univ. Russian Federation Committee of Patents and trade. Patent (19) RU (11) 2005486. Jan 15, 1994. Russia.

Immoglobulin E (lgE) of children living in higly radioactive areas is greatly above normal. Studies with 270 children show that consuming about 5 grams per day of spirulina tbalets normalized lgE within 6 weeks. Children not consuming spirulina did not change lhE levels. No side effects were observed. Spirulina lowers the amount of lgE in the blood, which in turn normalizes and reduce allergies.

Ten Spirulina centers of ten hectares each, can produce over 360 million Spirulina doses annually, comprising 10 grams of Spirulina per dose, to be mixed with cereal(s) flour, that can recuperate and save lives of over six million people a year.

Source: www.iimsam.org