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Red Marine Algae Safety

Red marine algae is cited by many natural health practitioners as being a "superfood," rich in minerals, vitamins and vital trace elements. Many species of red algae are found to have active properties against asthma, cancer and many viruses, including herpes. However, some species of red algae are known to contain toxins, and it is not always clear what type of algae is sold under the umbrella of "Red Marine Algae."

  1. Health-Giving Algae

    • There are upwards of 4,000 species of red marine algae, and thousands of brown algae species as well the blue-green algae such as spirulina and chlorella. The well-known seaweed supplement kelp is actually a species of brown algae, and both kelp and the blue-green algae are rich in the health-giving pigment chlorophyll. The red pigment in the red marine algae are xanthophylls, which themselves are known to produce certain health benefits.

    Antiviral and Antiparasitic

    • Seaweeds are rich in nutrients, and have long been used in Eastern Asia both as food and medicine. Certain species of red marine algae have been used for centuries in Chinese medicine as anti-parasitic agents, chiefly for targeting roundworm infections. Other red algaes have been used for their antiviral properties, and recent scientific research confirms that many species of red marine algae do produce antiviral effects and may be used specifically in the treatment of herpes attacks.

    Toxic Tides

    • However, numerous types of edible and non-edible algae have been associated with certain toxins. The phrase "toxic red tides" refers to red algae species blooming to such an extent that the sea is colored red with their pigments. Not all harmful algal blooms (HAB) are red, however, and many red blooms are not toxic, so the phrase is misleading. Despite this, it is true that numerous algal species can and do pollute the ocean with potent toxins that are extremely harmful to fish, shellfish and other animals (including humans) along the food chain.

    Poisonings

    • Certain types of porphyra, a red edible seaweed eaten frequently in Asia, have been shown to contain arsenic in the form of arsenosugars. According to a report published by Japanese scientists in 2000, there have been occasional reports of fatal poisonings as the result of eating certain algae of the Gracilaria species, which are normally found to be non-toxic. The same report states that domoic acid, the anti-parasitic agent present in certain red algae, has been responsible for toxic red tides in Japanese and American waters, and caused several deaths in humans.

    Caution

    • Despite the huge variety in seaweed types and effects, there are few, if any, guidelines in place for the safe and correct usage of sea vegetables in food or medicine. Red marine algae is often sold with no indication as to the precise species. Although seaweed has been eaten in Asia for centuries, and is mostly considered to be safe, a lack of accurate labeling on high-dose supplements makes judgment difficult. The natural health practitioner Linda Page states that the red algaes Dumontiaceae, Gigartina, Dilwyn and Nothogenia are both safe and useful and should be sought from reputable suppliers.

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