-8.02.05-
Iron in BAC and prevention of anemia
The most common dietary deficiency worldwide is iron,
affecting half a billion persons. However, this problem
affects women and children more. A growing child is
increasing the red blood cell mass, and needs additional iron.
Women of reproductive age who are menstruating require double
the amount of iron that men do, but normally the efficiency
of iron absorbtion from the gastrointestinal tract can
increase to meet this demand. The end result of decreased dietary
iron, decreased iron absorbtion, or blood loss is iron deficiency anemia.
The algae in BAC contain a great mix of non toxic iron,
as it occurs as a whole food, unlike that of isolated iron supplement
that can be toxic. Iron is essential for healthy red blood cells
and a strong immune system, but typical iron supplements are
not well absorbed by the human body.
Spirulina as in BAC, is known to have a very high iron content,
and for that reason, it was tested in a study against a typical
iron supplement. Spirulina fed rats absorbed 60% more iron than rats fed
the iron supplement, suggesting there is a highly available
form of iron in spirulina.1
In an earlier study, it had showed that it corrected anemia in rats.
2
In astudy conducted in Japan, eight young women had been limiting their meals
to stay thin, and showed hypochronic anemia Ð lower than
normal blood hemoglobin content. After four grams of
spirulina after each meal, in 30 days, blood hemoglobin
content increased 21% from 10.9 to 13.2, a satisfactory
level, no longer considered anemic.
3
Athletes in intensive training often suffer from non-anemic
iron deficit, with clinical symptoms such as exhaustion and
muscle fatigue. A 1998 study with Macedonian male and female
athletes taking spirulina for two months showed a distinct
rise in iron reserves. This simple dietary modification can
eliminate iron deficit symptoms and optimize athletic health
and physical capacity.4
- Johnson, P., Shubert, E. Availability of iron to rats from spirulina, a blue-green alga. Nutrition Research, 1986, Vol. 6, 85-94.
- Takemoto, K. Iron transfer from spirulina to blood in rats. Saitama Medical College, Japan, 1982.
- Takeuchi, T. Clinical experiences of administration of spirulina to patients with hypochronic anemia. Tokyo Medical and Dental Univ., Japan, 1978.
- Trojacanec, Z. et al. Influence of extensive training on the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin level and its correction. Inst. for Physiology, Skopje, Macedonia. XXIV FIMS World Congress of Sports Medicine, June 1998.
