A new study published in Progress in Cardiovascular Disease found that spirulina may have incredible potential to boost the body’s type 1 interferon response in fighting RNA viral infections.
The study that was titled, “Nutraceuticals have potential for boosting the type 1 interferon response to RNA viruses including influenza and coronavirus,” states:
Moreover, the phycocyanobilin (PCB) chromophore of cyanobacteria (such as spirulina) and many types of blue-green algae, a biliverdin metabolite, has been shown to mimic the NAPDH oxidase inhibiting activity of unconjugated bilirubin, likely because it is rapidly converted within cells to phycocyanorubin, a compound very similar in structure to bilirubin.11,12 This phenomenon likely explains many of the profound antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects observed when spirulina, phycocyanin (the prominent spirulina protein incorporating PCB as a chromophore), or PCB itself are administered in rodent models of human pathology.11,13 Hence, ingestion of spirulina or of spirulina extracts enriched in PCB may have potential for boosting type 1 interferon response in the context of RNA virus infection. Oral administration of a cold-water spirulina extract rich in phycocyanin has been found to decrease mortality in influenza-infected mice.
Spirulina contains very important infection-fighting proteins that help increase various disease-fighting antibodies in the body. The large amount of protein in spirulina helps boost the production of white blood cells that fight and prevent infection.
UC DAVIS STUDY SHOWS SPIRULINA BOOSTS IMMUNE SYSTEM
Adding spirulina to cultured immune system cells drastically increases the production of infection fighting cytokines, say immunologists at UC Davis School of Medicine and Medical Center. Their finding is published in the Fall issue of the Journal of Medicinal Foods.
Spirulina possesses diverse biological activities and nutritional significance due to high concentration of natural nutrients.
In fact, spirulina contains all eight essential amino acids, 10 non-essential amino acids. Spirulina contains an enormous amount of Vitamin B12 and Vitamin A compared to other algae. It also has beneficial probiotic bacteria, and pathogen-fighting proteins.
Spirulina enhances immunity by producing a huge amount of antibodies, interferon-gamma, and cytosine Sathasivam, Radhakrishnan, Hashem, &Abd_Allah, 2019;Krieg, Klinman, &Steinberg, 2012
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