The effects of "spirulina" consumption on liver health

In a recent study, researchers investigated the effect of an edible microalgae on liver indicators in the body and found that its consumption can cause changes in some blood enzymes; A topic that increases attention to the nutritional and protective uses of this material.

According to Ambassador Arjan, the liver is one of the most vital organs of the body and plays a role in such things as food metabolism, detoxification, and making some essential compounds. When liver cells are damaged, substances that should normally stay inside the cells enter the blood. Therefore, measuring enzymes such as AST, ALT and ALP in the blood is one of the common ways to check the condition of the liver. These enzymes are known as sensitive signs of liver damage in many medical and veterinary studies, and their elevation can be a warning about pressure or damage to the liver tissue.

In recent years, there has been increased attention to natural substances with the potential to aid liver health. One of these substances is spirulina; A microalgae that is known for having a high amount of protein, B vitamins, iron and bioactive compounds. This substance is especially noted for its compound called phycocyanin, which plays an important role in its antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are substances that help reduce the effect of free radicals; Unstable molecules that can damage cells. For this reason, investigating what effect spirulina has on the liver under normal conditions and without the presence of an obvious toxin, can be important to better understand its possible uses.

In a research with the same topic, Amir Kashwarnejad from the Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Kazeroon, in collaboration with Aja University of Medical Sciences, investigated the effect of oral spirulina on liver parameters. The subject of the research was the effect of consuming this microalgae on liver enzymes in male mice. That is, checking whether spirulina can affect the condition of the liver even in a healthy animal.

For this purpose, the researchers randomly divided 12 adult male mice into two equal groups. One group received only normal saline and the other group received spirulina at a daily dose of 600 mg per kilogram of body weight for 20 days. After the end of the course, blood was taken from the heart of the animals and then the level of AST, ALT and ALP enzymes in blood serum was measured by common laboratory methods. The data were also compared with a standard statistical test to determine whether the difference between the two groups was real and significant.

The results of the studies published in the "Quarterly Journal of Paramedical Sciences and Military Health" affiliated with Ajah University of Medical Sciences, showed that spirulina was able to significantly and significantly lower AST and ALT levels. To put it more simply, in this research, signs were seen that the consumption of this substance may reduce the release of these enzymes from the liver cells into the blood. This usually means better preservation of the liver cell wall. On the other hand, no significant change was seen in ALP, and this shows that the effect of spirulina in this study was more focused on a part of the liver cells than the biliary tract.

The researchers have stated in their conclusion that spirulina with a dose of 600 mg per kilogram of body weight, if consumed daily for 20 days, can reduce liver enzymes in the blood. This finding seems to be consistent with the common perception about the hepatoprotective properties of spirulina and shows that this microalgae may not only be useful in conditions of injury or poisoning, but can also support the liver in a normal state. Of course, this result was obtained in an animal model and more research is needed to generalize it to humans.

The importance of this finding is that it shows that a natural substance, without the use of chemical drugs, may be able to improve some indicators related to liver health. Spirulina has been around for years as a dietary supplement, but this study went a step further and examined it under normal conditions. From a scientific point of view, this issue can help clarify the role of spirulina in reducing oxidative stress, maintaining the integrity of liver cells and helping to balance liver function.

Another important point is that the reduction of AST and ALT is usually accompanied by a decrease in the leakage of enzymes from liver cells; It means that the cells have been able to maintain their structure better. However, because ALP did not change significantly, it seems that the effect of spirulina in this research was more on the intracellular and cytoplasmic part of hepatocytes. Such details are important for future research, because it shows that the effect of this microalgae may depend on the type of tissue, dosage and body conditions.