Aphanizomenon flos-aquae
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (July 2011) |
 | It has been suggested that Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (dietary supplement) be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since February 2010. |
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Aphanizomenon flos-aquae | |
Aphanizomenon flos-aquae is a freshwater species of cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are an ancient clade of bacterial microphyte, part of the cyanobacteria phylum.
AFA as a species has both toxic and nontoxic forms.[1][2] Most sources of AFA worldwide are toxic; containing both hepatic and neuro endotoxins[3].
Nutrients In Aphanizomenon flos-aquae
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2011) |
Vitamins
AFA is a nearly complete source of bioavailable vitamins, including vitamin B12 {{citation}}: Empty citation (help).
Antioxidants
Carbohydrates
AFA contains a polysaccharide[which?] that stimulates the migration of immune cells in the body; the only natural compound known to stimulate immune cell migration.
Essential fatty acids
The lipid content of AFA is rich in EFAs, especially DHA and EPA Omega-3 fatty acids . The DHA/EPA will vary depending on what point the algae is harvested during its life cycle and time of harvest but in most cases it is less than .05% mg.[the what?]
Source
Aphanizomenon flos-aquae grows in many areas of the world.[citation needed] The biomass that accumulates every year in Klamath Lake is among the most abundant,[citation needed] although toxins have been identified in its yield.
Klamath Lake
Upper Klamath Lake (sometimes called Klamath Lake) is a large, shallow freshwater lake east of the Cascade Range in south central Oregon in the United States. The largest freshwater body in Oregon, it is approximately 20 mi (32 km) long and 8 mi (12.9 km) wide and extends northwest from the city of Klamath Falls. It sits at an elevation of 4140 ft (1262 m).
The lake depth fluctuates due to regulation of its water supply, ranging from 8 ft (2.5 m) to 60 feet (18 m) deep at average levels. The lake level is kept within 1261 to 1264 m above sea level.[4] It is fed by several streams, including the Williamson River and is drained by the Link River, which issues from the south end of the lake. It is connected by a short channel to the smaller Agency Lake to the north. The Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge sits along the north edge of the lake.
Upper Klamath Lake is located in the high desert southern most part of the state of Oregon. The lake is protected to the northwest by the Cascade Mountains with an arid sagebrush steppe to the east and south. The lake is fed by 17 mineral-rich rivers that deposit an average of 50,000 tons of mineral-rich silt from the surrounding 4,000-square-mile (10,000 km2) volcanic basin, making Upper Klamath Lake one of the richest nutrient traps in the world.[citation needed] The lake waters and its sediments have a high mineral and trace element concentration due to a prehistoric volcanic eruption event (more than 7700y/A).[citation needed] The event covered the area with millions of tons of mineral ash as far north as the Canadian border. The regions volcanic legacy is associated with the Pacific Ring of Fire,[citation needed] a geologically active region that experiences large-scale volcanic, tectonic, and glacial events.
Aphanizomenon flos-aquae in Klamath Lake
Aphanizomenon flos-aquae from lake Klamath are known to be hepatotoxic (see the section on toxicity). The AFA in Klamath Lake is unique among microphytes of the lake in its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen.[citation needed] During harvest season, it uses the available nutrition, creating a massive bloom, choking out competing blooms, so that the water's microphyte volume is nearly 100% AFA.[citation needed] Upper Klamath Lake is free of adverse bacteria, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides.[citation needed] The lake receives an average 300 days of sunlight per year which provides a perfect growing environment for AFA.[citation needed] The nutrient solution, in the favorable alkalinity of the lake water, provides more than 60 times the nutrients needed for the bloom.[citation needed]
Research
| This section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2011) |
Recently there have been many scientifically-controlled studies analyzing the immune system-enhancing properties of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae.
In a recent double-blind, cross-over study at the Royal Victoria Hospital led by Dr. Gette Jenson, discovered that Blue Green Algae uniquely supports[how?] the healthy function of the immune system {{citation}}: Empty citation (help).
The following are brief summaries of other scientific studies:
- University of New Mexico - placebo controlled study. After eating AFA food supplement for a period of one month, intestinal function can improve. Another placebo-controlled study suggests that eating Aphanizomenon flos-aquae can stimulate specific areas of the brain for increased mental alertness.
Recently[when?] the first stage of an extensive research project carried out at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Canada, studying the effect of AFA on the immune and endocrine systems, as well as on general blood physiology, found that eating AFA had a profound and effect on Natural Killer (NK) cells.[5] AFA triggers the movement of 40% of the circulating NK cells from the blood to tissues.
Toxic forms of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae
Toxicity of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae has been reported in Canada,[6] Germany[7] and China.[8]
AFA is known to produce endotoxins, toxic chemicals that are released when cells die. Once released (lysed), and ingested these toxins can damage liver and nerve tissues in mammals. In areas where water quality is not closely monitored, the World Health Organization has assessed toxic algae as a health risk, citing the production of Anatoxin-a, saxitoxins, and cylindrospermopsin.[9] Dogs have been reported to have become ill or have fatal reactions after swimming in rivers and lakes containing toxic AFA. Reactions are most likely due to consumption of the bacteria rather than exposure to the skin.
Microcystin toxin has been found in all 16 samples of AFA bacteria products[10] sold as food supplements in Germany and Switzerland, originating from Lake Klamath: 10 out of 16 samples exceeded the safety value of 1 µg microcystin per gram. University professor Daniel Dietrich warned parents not to let children consume AFA products, since children are even more vulnerable to toxic effects, due to lower body weight, and the continuous intake might lead to accumulation of toxins. Dietrich also warns against quackery schemes selling AFA bacteria as medicine against illnesses like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), causing people to omit their regular drugs.
As a food supplement
Some compressed tablets of powdered Aphanizomenon flos-aquae cyanobacteria (named as "blue green algae") have been sold as food supplements, notably those filtered from Upper Klamath Lake in Oregon.[11]
References
- ^ Jensen, Gitte S.; Ginsberg, Donald I.; Drapeau, Christian (2001). "Blue-Green Algae as an Immuno-Enhancer and Biomodulator". JANA. 3 (4): 24–30.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Carmichael WW (1994). "The toxins of cyanobacteria". Scientific American. 270 (1): 78–86. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0194-78. PMID 8284661.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Karina Preußela, Fastnera Jutta; Federal Environmental Agency, FG II 3.3, Corrensplatz 1, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Department of Limnology of Stratified Lakes, Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Alte Fischerhütte 2, 16775 Stechlin, Germany; 15 October 2005[verification needed]
- ^ Klamath Lake
- ^ Effects of the Blue Green Algae Aphanizomenon flos-aquae on Human Natural Killer Cells. — Chapter 3.1 of the IBC Library Series, Volume 1911, Phytoceuticals: Examining the health benefit and pharmaceutical properties of natural antioxidants and phytochemicals
- ^ Saker ML, Jungblut AD, Neilan BA, Rawn DF, Vasconcelos VM (2005). "Detection of microcystin synthetase genes in health food supplements containing the freshwater cyanobacterium Aphanizomenon flos-aquae". Toxicon. 46 (5): 555–62. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2005.06.021. PMID 16098554.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Preussel K, Stüken A, Wiedner C, Chorus I, Fastner J (2006). "First report on cylindrospermopsin producing Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (Cyanobacteria) isolated from two German lakes". Toxicon. 47 (2): 156–62. doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2005.10.013. PMID 16356522.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Chen Y, Liu J, Yang W (2003). "[Effect of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae toxins on some blood physiological parameters in mice]". Wei Sheng Yan Jiu = Journal of Hygiene Research (in Chinese). 32 (3): 195–7. PMID 12914277.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ World Health Organization (2006). Guidelines for drinking-water quality. First addendum to third edition. Volume 1. Recommendations. Geneva: World Health Organization. ISBN 978-92-4-154674-4.
- ^ http://www.uni-konstanz.de/news/mittshow.php?nr=12&jj=2008
- ^ Spolaore P, Joannis-Cassan C, Duran E, Isambert A (2006). "Commercial applications of microalgae". Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering. 101 (2): 87–96. doi:10.1263/jbb.101.87. PMID 16569602.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
See also
Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Aphanizomenon flos-aquae". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway.