Microalgal food supplements from the perspective of Polish consumers: patterns of use, adverse events, and beneficial effects

Abstract

Microalgal food supplements are becoming increasingly popular due to their promising biological effects and high nutritional value, evidenced in in vitro, in vivo, and human studies. Some products of this kind have, however, raised controversies concerning their safety. At the same time, not much is known about the frequency of adverse events following the use of microalgal supplements, potential factors that may influence them, and general characteristics and behaviours of the consumer group. The present study aimed to fill this gap and surveyed a group of Polish consumers of microalgal products (n = 150) using an online questionnaire. As found, microalgal supplements (Spirulina, Chlorella, and Aphanizomenon) were popular in groups representing lacto-ovo-vegetarianism and veganism and were consumed predominantly for nutritional, immune-boosting, and detoxifying purposes. Their use was rarely discussed with specialists; the Internet constituted the most important source of information regarding these supplements. The most frequently self-reported health-beneficial effects of supplementation included the following: increased immunity, higher vitality, improved hair and skin quality, and better general well-being. Diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain, and skin rash were among the most often reported adverse events. Pre-existing medical conditions, namely renal failure and hypothyroidism, but not Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, were associated with increased occurrence of side effects. Those individuals who had consulted specialists as to the use of supplements reported adverse events significantly less often. A strikingly high frequency of side effects and very low consumer satisfaction were reported by a group of consumers supplementing Aphanizomenon-based products. In summary, the present study highlights that microalgal consumers may benefit from additional warnings of potential side effects and from consulting a qualified health specialist prior to use.

Essential and toxic elements in commercial microalgal food supplements

“…There have also been reports of increased levels of aluminium, lead, and inorganic arsenic, possibly as a consequence of the unsuitable location of cultivation ponds and the use of chemical methods to harvest biomass (Papazi et al 2010;Hedegaard et al 2013;Rzymski et al 2015). However, some individuals, particularly those suffering from autoimmune disorders, can be specifically susceptible to microalgal supplements (Lee and Werth 2004), and it is likely that the occurrence of adverse effects such as diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, and skin rash reported after consumption of these products (Rzymski et al 2015;Rzymski and Jaśkiewicz 2017) may have origins in their altered and imperfect quality. Therefore, it is imperative that the content of (potentially) toxic elements in these formulas be investigated, yet updated information in this regard is limited (Al-Dhabi 2013; Hedegaard et al 2013;Rzymski et al 2015).…”

Monitoring of essential and toxic elements in multi-ingredient food supplements produced in European Union

“…Consumers of FS do not always consult physicians with regard to their intake (Chiba et al 2015;Rzymski and Jaśkiewicz 2017). Such behaviour may lead to significant adverse health effects resulting from: (1) excessive consumption of minerals and/or vitamins; (2) supplementation of compounds inadequate for the consumer (e.g.…”

Assessment of the Acute and Subchronic Toxicity and Mutagenicity of Sideritis scardica Griseb. Extracts

“…Recently, the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) acknowledged the medicinal use of a tea made from S. scardica as a traditional herbal medicinal product used for the relief of coughs associated with cold and for the relief of mild gastrointestinal discomfort [4,5]. The S. scardica products are also available as food supplements or herbs, but as such, their registration requires neither preclinical or clinical studies [10,11,12]. …”