The Benefits Of Alfalfa Spirulina

Spirulina is a blue-green algae with a rich array of nutrients, including protein, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and beta-carotene, an antioxidant that helps protect cells from oxidative damage. A number of test tube, animal and human studies support its use for health conditions and athletic performance. Alfalfa is a food crop with health benefits. However, compared to spirulina, there are fewer studies supporting its use and, according to the Sloan-Kettering Medical Center, it comes with a number of contraindications and side-effects. Of the two, spirulina may be a better choice. Consult your doctor before trying herbal supplements.

Spirulina and Diabetes

A 2001 human study published in the"Journal of Medicinal Food" evaluated the impact of spirulina on blood glucose levels in 25 individuals with type 2 diabetes. Fifteen subjects received a spirulina supplement at lunch and dinner for two months. The control group experienced little or no change in blood glucose levels and no change in glycosylated hemoglobin, a marker of blood glucose levels in the prior month. In contrast the spirulina group experienced a decrease in fasting blood glucose and in two-hour postprandial glucose. While neither decrease was statistically significant, the results were supported by a significant drop in glycosylated hemoglobin.

Spirulina and Blood Lipids

In a 2010 study published in "Nutrition Research and Practice" 37 type 2 diabetes patients received either spirulina or a placebo for 12 weeks. While there were no differences in anthropometric measures after that time, the spirulina group enjoyed a significant reduction in triglyceride levels and diastolic blood pressure. In addition, there was a significant increase in adiponectin, a hormone associated with heart health, and a decrease in malondialdehyde, a marker of oxidative stress. Reductions in cholesterol were not significant.

Spirulina and Athletic Performance

A 2010 study in the journal "Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise" evaluated the effect of spirulina on exercise performance and metabolism. Subjects ingested spirulina for four weeks and then ran on a treadmill for two hours at 70 percent of their capacity and then at 95 percent of capacity to exhaustion. Time to exhaustion was significantly longer in the spirulina group. Compared to controls, the spirulina group also enjoyed increased levels of fat oxidation and glutathione, an antioxidant that protects cells from free radicals.

Spirulina Safety

The U.S. Pharmacopeia-National Formulary, USP-NF, contains standards for medicines, drugs and dietary supplements. To qualify, supplements must undergo a strict review process. In a recent review of spirulina reported in a 2011 article in the journal "Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition," it received a Class A safety rating and will be listed in the USP-NF. All such supplements are continuously monitored to assure the required standards are maintained.