Monday Sep 8, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study led by researchers at National Institute for Nutrition and Food Safety in Beijing, China suggests spirulina, an alga rich in high quality protein and carotenoids can be used as a vitamin A supplement.  

In the study, children were given four or two grams of spirulina or nothing five days per week for ten weeks. 

The study results show that spirulina is a good dietary source of beta-carotene which can effectively increase in vivo vitamin A storage in Chinese school-age children.  

Spirulina has a compete spectrum of nutrients including high protein, vitamins and minerals.  It is indeed the best food humans can eat.  

It should be noted that direct supplementation with vitamin A can be risky as this compound at high concentrations can be toxic.  Supplementation with spirulina is safe as it provides beta-carotene, which only is converted into vitamin A as needed.

Spirulina has been used as a weight loss aid and to prevent breast cancer, skin cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver damage,  high cholesterol.  This supplement has been also found to help type 2 diabetes mellitus in a study conducted by Indian scientists.  (David LIu, PHD)

Li L, Zhao X, Wang J, Muzhingi T, Suter PM, Tang G, Yin SA.  Spirulina can increase total-body vitamin A stores of Chinese school-age children as determined by a paired isotope dilution technique.  J Nutr Sci. 2012 Dec 13;1:e19.