Abstract
Arthrospira spp. (known commercially as Spirulina) and Chlorella spp., valued for their evidence-based nutritional and bioactive properties, are cultivated for the purpose of production of food supplements for worldwide distribution. However, the quality and safety of the final product depends on culturing and manufacturing conditions. The present study investigated the content of toxic elements (As species, Al, Cd, Hg, Ni, Pt, Pb, Cr (VI), rare earth elements) and minerals (Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Na, Mg, Mn, P, Zn) in Chlorella (n = 10) and Spirulina (n = 13) food supplements registered in the European Union. Considering the most common recommended daily dosage 3.0, supplementation with any of the studied product would contribute significantly to mineral intake, with the exception of Fe which was found at high but acceptable levels in both Spirulina and Chlorella formulas. The majority of products revealed agreement between factual mineral content and that declared on the label, the only exception being Cu content in Chlorella products found to be significantly higher (> 130%). All studied supplements were found to have Cd, Hg, and Ni levels much below safety limits, although selected ones were characterized by increased content of Al, Pb, and inorganic As. No hexavalent Cr was detected in the studied products. The study highlights that microalgal supplements can be safe for consumers if appropriate measures are taken to ensure consumer safety, although it underlines the continuous need to monitor these products in order to fully eliminate those of low quality.
Highlights
The market of food supplements is on the rise, with increasing numbers of individuals interested in using these formulas for various purposes in Europe, the USA, and Asia
The greatest market success has been achieved by Spirulina and Chlorella formulas, with the main cultivation plants located in the USA and Asia, in China, the current leader in global microalgal biomass production (García et al 2017)
The contents of Al and Ni were related to their Tolerable Weekly Intake (TWI) set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) at 1.0 and 0.0195 mg kg-1body weight, respectively (EFSA 2008, 2015), assuming a daily consumption of 3.0 g of a supplement for a week by a 70-kg adult
Summary
The market of food supplements is on the rise, with increasing numbers of individuals interested in using these formulas for various purposes in Europe, the USA, and Asia. 2008; Bailey et al 2013) Within this group, supplements that are based on microalgal biomass are gaining economic attention, but at the same time, their bioactive properties are being extensively explored using complementary research models: in vitro and in in vivo experiments, and randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials involving different groups of patients (Panahi et al 2016; de la Jara et al 2018). Supplements that are based on microalgal biomass are gaining economic attention, but at the same time, their bioactive properties are being extensively explored using complementary research models: in vitro and in in vivo experiments, and randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials involving different groups of patients (Panahi et al 2016; de la Jara et al 2018) These products use biomass of cyanobacteria belonging to the genera of Arthrospira (known commercially as Spirulina), Nostoc, and the former BAphanizomenon,^ and green algae representing the genera Haematococcus, Dunaliella, and Chlorella (Pulz and Gross 2004). The greatest market success has been achieved by Spirulina and Chlorella formulas, with the main cultivation plants located in the USA and Asia, in China, the current leader in global microalgal biomass production (García et al 2017)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
