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# Spirulina helps prevent breast cancer
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/spirulina_helps_prevent_breast_cancer_0418141216/
- Published: 2014-04-18T13:15:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T15:47:05.000Z
- Description: Among rats exposed to the carcinogen DMBA, 13% fed a Spirulina-supplemented diet developed mammary tumors against 87% of the others. Spirulina lowered Ki-67 and estrogen-alpha expression, curbed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis within 48 hours.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Supplements, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Friday April 18, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A study published in the April 2014 issue of The American Journal of Pathology suggests that eating Spirulina a a dietary supplement can help prevent breast cancer.

The study shows that among rats exposed to a chemical carcinogen called 7,12-dimethylbenz\[a\]anthracene (DMBA), those on a diet supplemented with Spirulina were only at 13% (13 out of 100 developed mammary tumors) risk of developing breast cancer, compared with others at 87%.

The study revealed Spirulina supplementation reduces expression of both Ki-67 and estrogen α and inhibits cell proliferation by 24 hours of supplementation. 

One way Spirulina prevents breast cancer is to induce apoptosis by 48 hours of spirulina supplementation. Apoptosis or programmed cell death, a normal physiological event, is not found in cancerous cells, which is why cancerous cells multiply indefinitely and form a tumor mass (cancer).

Allal Ouhtit, Ph.D., M.Ph. from Sultan Qaboos University and colleagues conducted the study in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.

Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis; previously Spirulina platensis), a high protein food, has been used as a food in some regions. Early studies show supplementation with this dietary supplement can help type 2 diabetics and help induce weight loss or prevent obesity.

Spirulina is a blue-green microalga (cyanobacterium) with various potent phytoantioxidants and anticancerous properties. It has a full spectrum of nutrients and is considered a highly healthful food. (David Liu)