Characterization and bioavailability of vitamin B12-compounds from edible algae.
Watanabe F, Takenaka S, Kittaka-Katsura H, Ebara S, Miyamoto E.
Department of Health Science, Kochi Women's University, Kochi, Japan.
Substantial amounts of vitamin B12 were found in some edible algae (green and purple lavers) and algal health food (chlorella and spirulina tablets) using the Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis ATCC7830 microbiological assay method. Corrinoid-compounds were purified and characterized from these algae to clarify the chemical properties and bioavailability of the algal vitamin B12. True vitamin B12 is the predominate cobamide of green and purple lavers and chlorella tablets. Feeding the purple laver to vitamin B12-deficient rats significantly improved the vitamin B12 status. The results suggest that algal vitamin B12 is a bioavailable source for mammals. Pseudovitamin B12 (an inactive corrinoid) predominated in the spirulina tablets, which are not suitable for use as a vitamin B12 source, especially for vegetarians. algal health food, bioavailability, cobalamin, edible algae, vitamin B12
PUB: J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2002 Oct;48(5):325-31.
Essential trace elements distribution in food micro algae Spirulina platensis biomass fractions
Zaretskaia ES, Gmoshinskii IV, Mazo VK, Zorin SN, Aleshko-Ozhevskii IuP.
Distribution of some trace elements elements (zinc, selenium, iron, manganese, chromium) was characterized in enriched biomass of food micro algae Spirulina platensis by means of water-methanol fractionation. The majority of said trace elements was shown to be incorporated in intercellular hydrophylic fraction, e.g. could be connected to cellular proteins. This result enable the conclusion, that Spirulina is a suitable matrix for biotechnological incorporation of new food trace elements preparations.
PUB: Vopr Pitan. 2004;73(2):28-31.
Selenium sufficiency in patients with malabsorption syndrome and its optimization with selenium enriched food supplements
Shakhovskaia AK, Gmoshinskii IV, Shirina LI, Mazo VK.
Selenium security was measured in 15 adult patients suffering from malabsorption syndrome, resulted from stomach and small intestine surgical resection consequences. In 7 of them (47%) marked deficiency of this essential trace element was revealed and in other 6 (40%)--suboptimal security. The indices of selenium security in observed patients markedly and significantly (p < 0.003) increased after a 3-week course of dietetic treatment including uptake of organic selenium enriched food supplement in amount equal to 90 mcg Se per day. This dietetic treatment had mild "physiologic" character that became apparent from the observation that the largest serum selenium increase was noticed in patients with largest degree of selenium insufficiency. It's concluded that there is certain testimony for selenium security correction in malabsorption patients by means of selenium enriched food supplement.
PUB: Vopr Pitan. 2003;72(6):32-5.
Fatty acid composition of Chlorella and Spirulina microalgae species.
Otles S, Pire R.
Ege University, Department of Food Engineering, Izmir, Turkey.
Two New Age foods which contain high concentrations of whole food nutrients are the single-celled microalgae Chlorella and Spirulina. They are accepted as functional foods, which are defined as products derived from natural sources, whose consumption is likely to benefit human health and enhance performance. These foods are used as a supplement/ingredient or as a complete food to enhance the performance and state of the human body, or improve a specific bodily function. Functional foods are used mainly as products to nourish the human body after physical exertion or as a preventive measure against ailments. We determined the fatty acid compositions, particularly polyunsaturated fatty acid compositions, of Chlorella and Spirulina by capillary column-gas chromatography. The data obtained show that Spirulina contains unusually high levels of gamma-linolenic acid, an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid.
PUB: J AOAC Int. 2001 Nov-Dec;84(6):1708-14.
Comparative evaluation of the vitamin composition of unicellular algae and higher plants grown under artificial conditions
Baianova IuI, Trubachev IN.
Russia
The vitamin composition of representatives of green (Chlorella vulgaris, Platimonas viridis), blue-green (Synechococcus elongatus, Coccopedia, Spirulina platensis, Cyanidium caldarium), red (Porphyridium cruentum) unicellular algae and higher plants (wheat, chufa, beet, carrot, turnip, radish, cucumber, dill, Welsh onion, potato) grown under artificial conditions was examined. The content of B complex vitamins (thiamine, riboflavine, nicotinic and folic acids), ascorbic acid and carotene was measured. Among the algae studied Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis showed the highest vitamin activity. The red alga Porphyridium cruentum contained the lowest quantity of thiamine, riboflavine and carotene and larger amounts of nicotinic acid. Comparison of the content of vitamins C, B1, B2, PP, folic acid and carotene in unicellular algae and higher plants, that are natural and traditional sources of the vitamins, demonstrated that the above green and blue-green algae contain greater than higher plants amounts of thiamine, riboflavine, folic acid and carotene, when calculated per g dry matter. All algae, except for Platimonas viridis and Cyanidium caldarium, are superior to beet and carrot in their content of ascorbic acid and inferior to green vegetables (radish, cabbage, dill and Welsh onion) in that parameter.
PUB: Prikl Biokhim Mikrobiol. 1981 May-Jun;17(3):400-7.
Biological activity of Spirulina
Blinkova LP, Gorobets OB, Baturo AP.
Mechnikov Research Institute for Vaccines and Sera, Moscow, Russia.
In this review information of Spirulina platensis (SP), a blue-green alga (photosynthesizing cyanobacterium) having diverse biological activity is presented. Due to high content of highly valuable proteins, indispensable amino acids, vitamins, beta-carotene and other pigments, mineral substances, indispensable fatty acids and polysaccharides, PS has been found suitable for use as bioactive additive. SP produces an immunostimulating effect by enhancing the resistance of humans, mammals, chickens and fish to infections, the capacity of influencing hemopoiesis, stimulating the production of antibodies and cytokines. Under the influence of SP macrophages, T and B cells are activated. SP sulfolipids have proved to be effective against HIV. Preparations obtained from SP biomass have also been found active against herpesvirus, cytomegalovirus, influenza virus, etc. SP extracts are capable in inhibiting cancerogenesis. SP preparations are regarded as functional products contributing to the preservation of the resident intestinal microflora, especially lactic acid bacilli and bifidobacteria, and to a decrease in the level of Candida albicans. The biological activity of SP with respect to microorganisms holds good promise for using these microalgae as components of culture media.
PUB: Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol. 2001 Mar-Apr;(2):114-8.
Pharmacology and toxicology of Spirulina alga
Chamorro G, Salazar M, Favila L, Bourges H.
Toxicologia, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biologicas, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico, D.F.
Spirulina, a unicellular filamentous blue-green alga has been consumed by man since ancient times in Mexico and central Africa. It is currently grown in many countries by synthetic methods. Initially the interest in Spirulina was on its nutritive value: it was found almost equal to other plant proteins. More recently, some preclinical testing suggests it has several therapeutic properties such as hypocholesterolemic, immunological, antiviral and antimutagenic. This has led to more detailed evaluations such as nucleic acid content and presence of toxic metals, biogenic toxins and organic chemicals: they have shown absence or presence at tolerable levels according to the recommendations of international regulatory agencies. In animal experiments for acute, subchronic and chronic toxicity, reproduction, mutagenicity, and teratogenicity the algae did not cause body or organ toxicity. In all instances, the Spirulina administered to the animals were at much higher amounts than those expected for human consumption. On the other hand there is scant information of the effects of the algae in humans. This area needs more research.
PUB: Rev Invest Clin. 1996 Sep-Oct;48(5):389-99.
