Blue Green Algae and Cancer?

Question

Is there is any connection between Blue Green Algae and Cancer?

Answer 1

Blue-green algae has dual cholesterol lowering abilities
(provided by American Chemical Society)

Researchers say they have confirmed, for the first time, that blue-green algae taken as a nutritional supplement can significantly lower cholesterol in animals. Furthermore, the algae works in two ways to reduce cholesterol according to the scientists, who spoke in March at a national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.

The alga Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) is a novel dietary supplement already available on the market. AFA contains significant amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), according to Christian Drapeau of Cell Tech in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He says that the algae's PUFAs seem to be exceptionally well absorbed by animals. Over the past decade, other research has suggested that PUFAs reduce blood cholesterol and that PUFA deficiency is linked with cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, certain forms of cancer, attention deficit disorder, and more.

In addition to providing PUFAs, Drapeau says the cholesterol-lowering effects of AFA are "likely to be mediated by something else though this alternative mechanism remains unidentified." He adds that, in his experiments with rats, the beneficial effects seem to be independent of the PUFAs present.

Drapeau says this is one of the first studies that provides scientific data supporting the numerous testimonials and empirical evidence that have encouraged the use of AFA as a dietary supplement for health benefits. He cautions, however, "we are currently doing studies to determine if the effects of AFA on cholesterol in rats will translate to humans."

Drapeau collaborated with researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, which is affiliated with Harvard Medical School.

In addition,

An early study on blue-green algae's cancer-preventive properties in humans was performed on tobacco-induced oral leukoplakia.19 Mathew et al found that oral supplementation with Spirulina fusiformis resulted in complete regression of 57% of subjects with homogenous leukoplakia. After discontinuation of Spirulina supplementation, almost half of the complete responders developed recurrent lesions.

In other studies, extracts of blue-green algae have been used to treat cancer in animal models. In one model, ingestion of an extract of Spirulina and Dunaliella was shown to inhibit chemically-induced carcinogenesis in hamster buccal pouches.20,21 Earlier studies often attributed the anti-cancer effect of algae to its content in carotenoids since beta-carotene has been shown to have an effect similar to that of algae extract. Amore recent study, however, showed that the sulfated polysaccharide mentioned above, Ca-SP, appears to inhibit tumor invasion and metastasis.22 Both the in vitro and in vivo effects of Ca-SP suggest that the intra-venous administration of Ca-SP reduces the lung metastasis of melanoma cells by inhibiting the tumor invasion of the basement membrane. Awater-based extract of Aphanizomenon flos aquae containing high concentrations of phycocyanin inhibited the in vitro growth of one out of four tumor cell lines tested, indicating that at least some tumor cell types may be directly sensitive to killing by phycocyanin (Jensen et al, manuscript in preparation). Another fresh-water blue-green algae, Phormidium tenue, contains several diacyl-glycerol compounds which effectively inhibited chemically-induced skin tumors in mice.23 In addition, Spirulina was shown to have a modulatory effect on hepatic carcinogen metabolizing enzymes.24

Of major interest to ongoing research in inflammation as well as breast cancer is the finding that C-phycocyanin selectively inhibits COX-2, but has no effect on COX-1. 25 The COX enzymes are involved in prostaglandin synthesis. Since COX-2 is over-expressed in many breast cancer cells, and inhibition of COX-2 leads to a markedly reduced tumor growth and blocks angiogenesis, the finding that phycocyanin specifically interferes with this pathway holds promise.

Hope it helps.

Source: http://www.sdearthtimes.com/et0599/et0599s12.html

Answer 2

Claims have been made that it can be used for cancer prevention and treatment but no human clinical data support its use. These claims are likely because it has been found to increase the level of circulating natural killer cells in healthy human subjects. Also, other tests in glass dishes have shown antimutagenic activity.

Answer 3

No, of course not. If it did we would have cured cancer 100 years ago. That said, being as healthy as possible is important since general health is important to make treatments as tolerable as possible, and those can be part of a balanced diet. Rest and exercise are also important.

Answer 4

None that I am aware of.
cancercenter.com can problably tell you more.

Answer 5

no