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Subchronic toxicity study in mice fed Spirulina maxima

M Salazar1, E Martínez, E Madrigal

  • 1Departamento de Toxicología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas (I.P.N.), México D.F., Mexico.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology
|December 16, 1998
PubMed
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Spirulina maxima, a blue-green alga, was tested for toxicity in mice over 13 weeks. High dietary levels of this food supplement showed no adverse effects, confirming its safety for subchronic consumption.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Science
  • Toxicology
  • Phycology

Background:

  • Spirulina maxima is a blue-green alga widely consumed as a food supplement and used as a natural food coloring.
  • Assessing the safety of food supplements is crucial for public health and regulatory approval.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the subchronic toxicity of Spirulina maxima in a rodent model.
  • To determine the safety of Spirulina maxima when administered orally at high dietary concentrations for 13 weeks.

Main Methods:

  • Male and female mice (n=10 per sex per group) were fed diets containing 0% (control), 10%, 20%, or 30% Spirulina maxima for 13 weeks.
  • Comprehensive toxicological assessments included monitoring behavior, food/water intake, growth, survival, hematology, clinical chemistry, and gross/microscopic pathology.

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  • Serum cholesterol levels were specifically analyzed to detect potential metabolic changes.

    • Main Results:

    • Spirulina maxima ingestion did not affect mouse behavior, food/water intake, growth, or survival rates across all tested concentrations.
    • Hematology and clinical chemistry parameters showed no significant differences between the control and S. maxima-treated groups.
    • While significant changes in serum cholesterol were observed at 20% and 30% concentrations in both sexes, these were not indicative of a toxic effect.

    Conclusions:

    • Subchronic oral administration of Spirulina maxima at high dietary levels (up to 30%) is safe and does not produce adverse effects in mice.
    • Spirulina maxima can be considered safe as a food supplement and coloring agent based on this 13-week rodent study.
    • Further research may explore the specific mechanisms behind the observed cholesterol level changes, although they were deemed non-toxic in this context.