Sunday, February 24, 2008

Chlorella Supplement decreases Dioxin in Breast Milk

This is MAJOR! BCF are you out there?

Nakano et al., 2007. Chlorella ( Chlorella pyrenoidosa ) Supplementation
Decreases Dioxin and Increases Immunoglobulin A Concentrations in Breast
Milk. Journal of Medicinal Food 10 (1): 134–142

ABSTRACT

In addition to meeting nutritional requirements, breast milk plays
important roles in biodefense for nursing infants. Dioxins have been
detected at high concentrations in breast milk, raising concerns about
disorders in nursing infants caused by breast milk containing dioxins in
Japan.

We analyzed dioxin levels in breast milk and maternal blood samples
from 35 pregnant women in Japan. We also measured immunoglobulin (Ig) A
concentrations in breast milk and investigated correlations with dioxin
concentrations. In addition, 18 of the 35 women took Chlorella pyrenoidosa (
Chlorella ) supplements during pregnancy, and the effects on dioxin and IgA
concentrations in breast milk were investigated.

Toxic equivalents were significantly lower in the breast milk of women taking Chlorella tablets than in the Control group ( P = .003). These results suggest that Chlorella supplementation by the mother may reduce transfer of dioxins to the child through breast milk.

No significant correlation was identified between dioxin and IgA concentrations in breast milk in the Control group. It is unlikely that normal levels of dioxin exposure via food have a remarkable influence on IgA in breast milk.

IgA concentrations in breast milk in the Chlorella group were significantly higher than in the Control group ( P = .03). Increasing IgA levels in breast milk is considered to be effective for
reducing the risk of infection in nursing infants. The present results suggest that Chlorella supplementation not only reduces dioxin levels in breast milk, but may also have beneficial effects on nursing infants by increasing IgA levels in breast milk.