Spirulina's Role as an Anti-Cancer Agent Confirmed in Human Studies

PETALUMA, Calif. (April 8, 2002) - Scientists at the Osaka Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases have confirmed in humans that taking an extract of Spirulina can have positive effects on the production of cancer fighting immune cells in the body. Results of the study have been published in the journal International Immunopharmacology vol.2, number 4.

For decades, animal and in vitro studies have demonstrated the immune system activation effects of Spirulina. This latest study, performed on 12 adult males, found that the oral administration of a hot water extract of Spirulina (outdoor grown and spray dried) helped the immune system to produce cancer fighting immune cells called Natural Killer (NK) Cells. By analyzing the blood cells of volunteers, the group showed a significant increase in NK cell production and an increase of the killing ability of these NK cells.

Moreover, in vitro stimulation of blood cells with BCG cell wall skeleton (a bacterial cell wall material) resulted in a significant increase in IL-12 production in cells from volunteers given Spirulina than in cells without pre-exposure to Spirulina. IL-12 is a cytokine that stimulates Natural Killer Cells. It facilitates cell-killing activity of NK cells.

While more research is needed to confirm and expand upon these results, this study shows that Spirulina has the potential to mitigate cancer. It also suggests that taking Spirulina helps arm the body with defensive natural killer cells that can act on cancer cells as soon as they develop, thereby preventing cancer’s onset.

"This human study lends further evidence to the immunostimulatory effects of Spirulina that have been demonstrated in several animal and in vitro studies. This study is also significant in that it demonstrates that Spirulina grown outdoors, under controlled conditions, does effect such immune response" says Dr. Amha Belay, Sr. Vice President and Scientific Director, Earthrise Nutritionals.

The increased Natural Killer Cell activity set in 4 weeks after the administration of Spirulina. Interestingly, the heightened activity continued to be observed up to five weeks after stopping administration of Spirulina.

The researchers studied Natural Killer cell activity using IL12/IL18 mediated interferon gamma production. This is the first time that the molecular mechanism of the human immune enhancing effects of Spirulina has been explained. The study also confirms results from earlier animal studies by the same group and results from an in vitro study using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by a group of researchers at the University of California, Davis.

Earthrise Nutritionals became the first American company to introduce Spirulina as a natural food in 1979, leading the green food revolution. Today, Earthrise markets its popular trademarked products in the USA and in 30 countries around the world out of its sales and marketing offices in Petaluma, California. Earthrise Spirulina is grown under controlled conditions following FDA good manufacturing practices (GMP), and under an ISO 9001 Quality Management System. Earthrise Nutritionals, Inc. is the only ISO 9001 registered Spirulina Company in the world. This strict quality assurance system guarantees the safety, quality and consistency of the product.