Typical Chemical Analysis of Spirulina

(Analysis done by TNO, a government-sponsored, UN-approved laboratory.)

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Chemical Composition
Moisture  7.0%
Ash  9.0%
Proteins 71.0%
Crude fiber  0.9%
Xanthophylls 1.80 g/kg of product
Carotene 1.90 g/kg of product
Chlorophyll a 7.60 g/kg of product

Total Organic Nitrogen 13.35%  
Nitrogen from Proteins 11.36%  
Crude Protein (%N x 6.25) 71.00%  

Essential Amino Acids
Histidine 1.08%
Isoleucine 4.13%
Leucine 5.80%
Lysine 4.00%
Methionine 2.17%
Phenylalanine 3.95%
Threonine 4.17%
Tryptophan 1.13%
Valine 6.00%

Non-Essential Amino Acids
Alanine 5.82%
Arginine 5.98%
Aspartic Acid 6.43%
Cystine 0.67%
Glutamic Acid 8.94%
Glycine 3.46%
Proline 2.97%
Serine 4.00%
Tyrosine 4.60%

Vitamins
Biotin (H) average 0.40 mg/kg
Cyanocobalamin (B-12) average 2.00 mg/kg
d-Ca-Pantothenate average 11.00 mg/kg
Folic Acid average 0.50 mg/kg
Inositol average 350.00 mg/kg
Nicotinic Acid (PP) average 118.00 mg/kg
Pyridoxine (B-6) average 3.00 mg/kg
Riboflavine (B-2) average 40.00 mg/kg
Thiamine (B-1) average 55.00 mg/kg
Tocopherol (E) average 190.00 mg/kg
Moisture 7.0%


Ash 9.0%


Minerals
Calcium (Ca) 1,315 mg/kg  
Phosphorus (P) 8,942 mg/kg  
Iron (Fe) 580 mg/kg  
Sodium (Na) 412 mg/kg  
Chloride (Cl) 4,400 mg/kg  
Magnesium (Mg) 1,915 mg/kg  
Manganese (Mn) 25 mg/kg  
Zinc (Zn) 39 mg/kg  
Potassium (K) 15,400 mg/kg  
Others 57,000 mg/kg  


Nutritional Value
Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) of 2.2-2.6
(74-87% that of casein)
Net Protein Utilization (NPU) of 53-61%
(85-92% that of casein)
Digestibility of 83-84%
Available Lysine - average - 85%


Nitrogen from Nucleic Acids 1.99%
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)
RNA = N x 2.18		 3.50%
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
DNA = N x 2.63		 1.00%


Total Carbohydrates 16.5%
Rhamnose average 9.0%
Glucane average 1.5%
Phosphoryled cyclitols average 2.5%
Glucosamine & Muramic acid average 2.0%
Glycogen average 0.5%
Sialic acid & others average 0.5%
Sterols 325 mg/kg
Cholesterol  196 mg/kg
Sitosterol   97 mg/kg
Dihidro 7 Cholesterol 32 mg/kg
Sodium (Na)  
Chloride (Cl)  
Magnesium (Mg)  


Carotenoids 4,000 mg/kg
α Carotene average traces
ß Carotene average 1,700 mg/kg
Xanthophylis average 1,000 mg/kg
Cryptoxanthin average 556 mg/kg
Echinenone average 439 mg/kg
Zeaxanthin average 316 mg/kg
Lutein & Euglenanone average 289 mg/kg


Total Lipids 7.0%
Fatty Acids 5.7%
  Lauric (C-12) 229 mg/kg
  Myristic (C-14) 644 mg/kg
  Palmitic (C-16) 21,141 mg/kg
  Palmitoleic (C-16) 2,035 mg/kg
  Palmitolinoleic (C-16) 2,565 mg/kg
  Heptadecanoic (C-17) 142 mg/kg
  Stearic (C-18) 353 mg/kg
  Oleic (C-18) 3,009 mg/kg
  δ Linoleic (C-18) 13,784 mg/kg
  α Linolenic (C-18) 11,970 mg/kg
  Linolenic (C-18) 427 mg/kg
  Others 699 mg/kg
Insaponifiable 1.3%
  Sterols 325 mg/kg
  Titerpen alcohols 800 mg/kg
  Carotenoids 4,000 mg/kg
  Chlorophyll a 7,600 mg/kg
  Others 150 mg/kg