Hypocholesterolemic Effect ofSpirulinain Patients with Hyperlipidemic Nephrotic Syndrome

Abstract

In nephrotic syndrome, large amounts of plasma proteins are lost in urine, causing a decrease in the plasma oncotic pressure. This leads to enhanced hepatic synthesis of albumin and other proteins, including lipoproteins, causing a secondary hyperlipidemia. Essential fatty acids such as gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) can prevent accumulation of cholesterol in the body, and spirulina has an appreciable amount of GLA. In this study 23 patients (age 2 to 13 years) with nephrotic syndrome received either medication (group I) or medication plus 1 g/day Spirulina (group II). Height, weight, and serum levels of fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), and low- and high-density cholesterol fractions (LDL-C and HDL-C, respectively) were measured before and after the 2-month study period. Mean height and weight were normal compared with healthy, age-matched Indian children. Lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly increased at baseline. TC significantly decreased by 116.33 mg/dl, LDL-C by 94.14 mg/dl, and triglycerides by 67.72 mg/dl in group II; in control group I, these values fell by 69.87, 61.13, and 22.62 mg/dl, respectively. The LDL-C:HDL-C ratio also decreased significantly, by 1.66 in group II and 1.13 in group I. TC:HDL-C decreased by 1.96 in group II and 1.19 in group I. HDL-C:LDL-C also improved significantly in both the groups. It can be concluded that spray-dried Spirulina capsules, rich in antioxidants, GLA, amino acids, and fatty acids, helped reduce the increased levels of lipids in patients with hyperlipidemic nephrotic syndrome.

Effect of microalga Spirulina platensis (Arthrospira platensis) on hippocampus lipoperoxidation and lipid profile in rats with induced hypercholesterolemia

“…The triglycerides and total cholesterol levels were significantly decreased in the animals that received a diet added with Spirulina. Spirulina supplementation to patients with type II diabetes mellitus (Parikh et al, 2001) and hyperlipidemic nephrotic syndrome (Samuels et al, 2002) improved the patients` lipid profile through a reduction in the total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides levels. The SD/H group (Spirulina diet and hypercholesterolemic diet), in which the preventive effect of the microalga Spirulina was tested against the development of hypercholesterolemia, all parameters remained unchanged (p>0.05) at the end of the treatment, indicating a preventive potential for the elevation of TC (Fig.…”

Emerging health issues of cyanobacterial blooms

“…and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae grown in artificial ponds or collected directly from the natural environment. Producers claimed they are health-promoting natural products, used as a support in losing weight during hypocaloric diets, increasing alertness and energy and elevated mood for people suffering depression and for their supposed anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-cancer, hypocholesterolemic and hypotriglyceridemic properties and immune-stimulating functions [85][86][87]. In addition, BGAS are administered to children as an alternative, natural therapy to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) [88].…”

Efficacy of Spirulina (Tahlab) in Patients of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (Ziabetus Shakri) - A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Out of 40 patients, 32(80%) were found to be normal without any concomitant diseases, whereas, 7 (17.5%) were hypertensive and 1 (2.5%) had complicated diabetes mellitus (Table 1). Samuels et al made almost similar observations [34]. The duration of illness was between 24-60 months in 9 (22.5%) patients, 12-24 months in 14 (35%) patients, 7-12 months in 4 (10%), 4-6 months in 3 (7.5%), 1-3 months in 5 (12.5%), and >60 months in 5(12.5%) ( Table 1).…”