Spirulina / Arthrospira platensis Arthrospira maxima

The Basics

What is Spirulina / Arthrospira platensis Arthrospira maxima?

Used to support a number of health conditions, including fatigue, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, and viral infections.

Brand names for Spirulina / Arthrospira platensis Arthrospira maxima

Na

How Spirulina / Arthrospira platensis Arthrospira maxima is classified

Complementary Therapies, Phytotherapy, Plants, Medicinal

Spirulina / Arthrospira platensis Arthrospira maxima During Pregnancy

Spirulina / Arthrospira platensis Arthrospira maxima pregnancy category

Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Spirulina / Arthrospira platensis Arthrospira maxima while pregnant

N/A

Taking Spirulina / Arthrospira platensis Arthrospira maxima While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Spirulina / Arthrospira platensis Arthrospira maxima?

Spirulina (Aphanizomenon sp., Spirulina sp., and others) is a fresh water blue-green algae that contains various nutrients such as protein, B vitamins, vitamin E, chlorophyll, beta-carotene, and iron. Spirulina has no specific lactation-related uses. No data exist on the excretion of any components of spirulina into breastmilk or on the safety and efficacy of spirulina in nursing mothers or infants. Spirulina is generally well tolerated when grown under controlled conditions. Minor adverse effects include diarrhea, bloating, upset stomach, flatulence, edema, headache, muscle pain, facial flushing, and sweating. Products that are grown in uncontrolled conditions can contain heavy metals and other contaminants. Some products can be contaminated with the blue-green algae species Microcystis aeruginosa, which produces the hepatotoxins called microcystins. Breastmilk discoloration, green in one case, has been reported.[1][2] Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products.

Maternal / infant drug levels

Spirulina (Aphanizomenon sp., Spirulina sp., and others) is a fresh water blue-green algae that contains various nutrients such as protein, B vitamins, vitamin E, chlorophyll, beta-carotene, and iron. Spirulina has no specific lactation-related uses. No data exist on the excretion of any components of spirulina into breastmilk or on the safety and efficacy of spirulina in nursing mothers or infants. Spirulina is generally well tolerated when grown under controlled conditions. Minor adverse effects include diarrhea, bloating, upset stomach, flatulence, edema, headache, muscle pain, facial flushing, and sweating. Products that are grown in uncontrolled conditions can contain heavy metals and other contaminants. Some products can be contaminated with the blue-green algae species Microcystis aeruginosa, which produces the hepatotoxins called microcystins. Breastmilk discoloration, green in one case, has been reported.[1][2] Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products.

Possible effects of Spirulina / Arthrospira platensis Arthrospira maxima on milk supply

Three days before delivery, a mother replaced her normal iron supplement with blue-green algae complex (blue-green algae, chlorella, and spirulina; Ambrosia-SupHerb Ltd., Israel) 750 mg once daily. On the second day after delivery she expressed 30 mL of dark green milk. No abnormal milk cytology was found and a microbiologic culture was negative. After stopping the supplement, her milk returned to a normal color over the next 3 days. The change in color was probably caused by the algae supplement.[2]

Possible alternatives to Spirulina / Arthrospira platensis Arthrospira maxima

None listed