Update on Spirulina

4.2/5 - (33 votes)

Concerns about spirulina supplements extend to liver toxicity.

Discuss
Republish

What about the microscopic greens, like spirulina? Of all the controversial findings I’ve shared from the medical literature over the years, this is the one I get the most mail about. People love their pond scum.

So, I’ve stayed on top of the literature, and it’s time for an update. There’s no doubt that spirulina does some amazing things, but as with everything in life, it’s all about risk/benefit. And so, although in 2007, the data pointed against spirulina, and I threw mine out and encouraged others to do the same, is it possible that the balance of evidence has shifted back in favor? Still harmful? Half and half? Or, crept back to helpful?

In 2007, I was concerned about spirulina because of muscle breakdown, and these new findings have me concerned about liver cancer, too. 94% of samples were found to be contaminated with hepatotoxic microcystin toxins.

To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by veganmontreal.

Please consider volunteering to help out on the site.

Image thanks to Music4thekids via Wikimedia Commons.

What about the microscopic greens, like spirulina? Of all the controversial findings I’ve shared from the medical literature over the years, this is the one I get the most mail about. People love their pond scum.

So, I’ve stayed on top of the literature, and it’s time for an update. There’s no doubt that spirulina does some amazing things, but as with everything in life, it’s all about risk/benefit. And so, although in 2007, the data pointed against spirulina, and I threw mine out and encouraged others to do the same, is it possible that the balance of evidence has shifted back in favor? Still harmful? Half and half? Or, crept back to helpful?

In 2007, I was concerned about spirulina because of muscle breakdown, and these new findings have me concerned about liver cancer, too. 94% of samples were found to be contaminated with hepatotoxic microcystin toxins.

To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the above video. This is just an approximation of the audio contributed by veganmontreal.

Please consider volunteering to help out on the site.

Image thanks to Music4thekids via Wikimedia Commons.

Doctor's Note

Check out my other “HHH” videos (Harmful, Harmless, or Helpful?– listed below the post.

For more context, see my associated blog post: Soy milk: shake it up! and Toxin Contamination of Spirulina Supplements

Here are some newer related videos that came out after this video:

If you haven’t yet, you can subscribe to my videos for free by clicking here. Read our important information about translations here.

Subscribe to our free newsletter and receive the preface of Dr. Greger’s upcoming book How Not to Age.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This