Is AFA safe?
Doses up to 19 grams daily have been used safely for up to 2 months. Lower doses of 10 grams daily have been used safely for up to 6 months. Side effects are typically mild and may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and dizziness. But blue-green algae products that are contaminated are possibly unsafe.
What is AFA extract?
AFA Extract is dietary supplement containing AFA (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae), a blue-green super algae with an exceptional nutritional composition: all eight essential amino acids, numerous vitamins (includingvitamins K and B12), more than 130 minerals and trace elements…
Is aphanizomenon toxic?
Toxicity. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae has both toxic and nontoxic forms. Most sources worldwide are toxic, containing both hepatic and neuroendotoxins. Most cyanobacteria (including Aphanizomenon) produce BMAA, a neurotoxin amino acid implicated in ALS/Parkinsonism.
Does spirulina produce toxins?
Spirulina harvested in the wild poses a significant risk of contamination. The algae may harbor toxins if it grows in a body of water that’s polluted with heavy metals, bacteria, or harmful particles called microcystins (2).
Is blue algae toxic?
Blue-green algae can produce both nerve toxins (neurotoxins) and liver toxins (hepatotoxins). Call your doctor or veterinarian right away if you or your pets or livestock have signs of poisoning. Residential drinking water is sometimes taken from a lake.
Can Spirulina cause liver damage?
Because spirulina is harvested in natural waters, failure to adhere to quality control methods allows for contamination with toxins known as microcystins. These substances are toxic to the liver and can cause liver damage.
Do cyanobacteria release toxins?
Species of Cyanobacteria that Produces Toxins Cyanotoxins can be produced by a wide variety of planktonic cyanobacteria. Some of the most commonly occurring genera are Microcystis, Dolichospermum (previously Anabaena), and Planktothrix. Microcystis is the most common bloom-forming genus, and is almost always toxic.
Do all cyanobacteria produce toxins?
At least five types of potentially poisonous cyanobacteria are known to occur in North Dakota: Microcystis spp., Anabaena spp., Dolichospermum spp., Aphanizomenon spp. and Oscillatoria spp. However, not all cyanobacteria are poisonous, and the cyanobacteria that generate toxins do not always do so.
Is Aphanizomenon Flos Aquae safe?
Does spirulina remove toxins?
Spirulina is a nutrient-rich food that contains vital vitamins and minerals. It helps to alkalize the body and remove toxins and pollutants. Besides detoxing the body, spirulina improves overall health and protects the immune system. Spirulina is high in antioxidants which makes it an excellent detox food.
What toxin does cyanobacteria produce?
Cyanotoxins
Cyanotoxins are produced and contained within the cyanobacterial cells (intracellular). The release of these toxins in an algal bloom into the surrounding water occurs mostly during cell death and lysis (i.e., cell rupture) as opposed to continuous excretion from the cyanobacterial cells.
What toxins do cyanobacteria release?
Cyanobacterial toxins – cyanotoxins The cyanotoxins are a diverse group of compounds, both from the chemical and the toxicological points of view. In terms of their toxicological target, cyanobacterial toxins are hepatotoxins, neurotoxins, cytotoxins, dermatotoxins and irritant toxins (Wiegand & Pflugmacher, 2005).
Does spirulina remove heavy metals from the body?
Certain foods, such as spirulina and cilantro, may help transport excess heavy metals out of the body. According to one 2013 review , the following foods may be effective for heavy metal detoxification: Dietary fiber: Various foods rich in fiber, such as fruit and grains with bran, may help remove heavy metals.
What is Aphanizomenon flos aquae?
Aphanizomenon flos-aquae ( / əˌfænɪˈzɒmɪnɒn ˌflɒsˈeɪkwi /) is a species of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) which is commercially processed into a dietary supplement.
Is Aphanizomenon toxic to humans?
Most cyanobacteria (including Aphanizomenon) produce BMAA, a neurotoxin amino acid implicated in ALS / Parkinsonism. Toxicity of A. flos-aquae has been reported in Canada, Germany and China.
Is there paralytic shellfish poisoning in Aphanizomenon flos-aquae?
The presence of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins in cultures of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, isolated from the Crestuma-Lever reservoir, was found by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography employing two isocratic elution systems for the separation of PSP toxins.
Are blue-green algae supplements and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae associated with cyanotoxins?
Previous studies of recreational waters and blue-green algae supplements (BGAS) demonstrated co-occurrence of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) and cyanotoxins, presenting exposure risk.