The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Basrah's College of Pharmacy organized a scientific panel discussion titled "Toxicity of Supplements Extracted from Algae." The event aimed to raise community awareness against the consumption of commercially promoted dietary supplements lacking robust scientific and pharmaceutical backing.
The panel discussion featured a comprehensive lecture delivered by Assistant Professor Dr. Manal Abdul Khaliq Ibrahim. She explained that green algae, known under various commercial names, possess significant nutritional value. Consequently, recent times have seen an intensive incorporation of these algae into the manufacturing of pharmaceutical and dietary supplements.
However, Dr. Ibrahim emphasized that recent global research has demonstrated that some of these preparations carry levels of toxicity due to contamination by various types of harmful bacteria. Analyses of different samples revealed that these contaminants can cause serious human diseases, including pneumonia, kidney failure, and hepatitis. This underscores the necessity for medical caution and heightened public awareness when consuming such products.
