Nutritional quality and safety of the Spirulina dietary supplements sold on the Slovenian market

Masten Rutar, Jasmina (author), Jagodic Hudobivnik, Marta (author), Nečemer, Marijan (author), Vogel-Mikuš, Katarina (author), Arčon, Iztok (author), Ogrinc, Nives (author)

The microalgae Spirulina may be a popular dietary supplement rich in essential nutrients and vitamins, but oversight of the supplement industry, in general, remains limited, and increasing incidents of adulteration, misbranding, and undeclared ingredients together with misleading claims create potential risks. In response, this study characterized the elemental, amino acid and fatty acid content of commercially available Spirulina supplements in Slovenia using EDXRF, ICP-MS and GC-MS and compared the results with their nutritional declaration. The gathered data confirm that Spirulina supplements are a good source of calcium (0.15 to 29.5% of RDA), phosphorous (3.36–26.7% of RDA), potassium (0.5 to 7.69% of RDA) and selenium (0.01 to 38.6% of RDA) when consumed within recommended amounts. However, although iron contents were relatively high (7.64 to 316% of RDA), the actual bioavailability of iron was much lower since it was mainly present as the ferric cation. This study also confirms that pure Spirulina supplements are a good source of essential and non-essential amino acids, and ω-6 but not ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The presence of additives resulted in significant variation in nutrient content and, in some instances, lower product quality. Moreover, a high proportion (86.7%) of inappropriate declarations regarding the elemental content was observed. Overall, the study conclusions underline the need for a stricter control system for Spirulina-based supplements.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Spirulina, microalgae, cyanobacteria, elements, toxic elements, amino acids, fatty acids, authenticity, safety, quality
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: 20 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 11, iss. 6, art. 849
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-137531
• UDC: 502/504
• ISSN on article: 2304-8158
• DOI: 10.3390/foods11060849
• COBISS.SI-ID: 101750275
• Publication date in RUL: 21.06.2022

MASTEN RUTAR, Jasmina, JAGODIC HUDOBIVNIK, Marta, NEČEMER, Marijan, VOGEL-MIKUŠ, Katarina, ARČON, Iztok and OGRINC, Nives, 2022, Nutritional quality and safety of the Spirulina dietary supplements sold on the Slovenian market. Foods [online]. 2022. Vol. 11, no. 6,  849. [Accessed 24 April 2025]. DOI 10.3390/foods11060849. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=137531

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Foods
• Shortened title: Foods
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2304-8158
• COBISS.SI-ID: 512252472

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• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 17.03.2022