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    Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:531053. Epub 2010 Oct 19.

    Spirulina in clinical practice: evidence-based human applications.

    Source

    Department of Otolaryngology, Liverpool University Hospitals, Liverpool, UK.

    Abstract

    Spirulina or Arthrospira is a blue-green alga that became famous after it was successfully used by NASA as a dietary supplement for astronauts on space missions. It has the ability to modulate immune functions and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the release of histamine by mast cells. Multiple studies investigating the efficacy and the potential clinical applications of Spirulina in treating several diseases have been performed and a few randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews suggest that this alga may improve several symptoms and may even have an anticancer, antiviral and antiallergic effects. Current and potential clinical applications, issues of safety, indications, side-effects and levels of evidence are addressed in this review. Areas of ongoing and future research are also discussed.

    PMID:
    18955364
    [PubMed - in process]
    PMCID:
    PMC3136577
    Free PMC Article

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