Potential of Chlorella as a Dietary Supplement to Promote Human Health

Nutrients. 2020 Aug 20;12(9):2524. doi: 10.3390/nu12092524.

Abstract

Chlorella is a green unicellular alga that is commercially produced and distributed worldwide as a dietary supplement. Chlorella products contain numerous nutrients and vitamins, including D and B12, that are absent in plant-derived food sources. Chlorella contains larger amounts of folate and iron than other plant-derived foods. Chlorella supplementation to mammals, including humans, has been reported to exhibit various pharmacological activities, including immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and antihyperlipidemic activities. Meta-analysis on the effects of Chlorella supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors have suggested that it improves total cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose levels but not triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. These beneficial effects of Chlorella might be due to synergism between multiple nutrient and antioxidant compounds. However, information regarding the bioactive compounds in Chlorella is limited.

Keywords: Chlorella; antioxidants; dietary fibers; dietary supplements; folate; lutein; vitamin B12; vitamin D2.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antihypertensive Agents*
  • Antioxidants*
  • Chlorella* / chemistry
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Drug Synergism
  • Ergocalciferols
  • Folic Acid
  • Heart Disease Risk Factors
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents*
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Immunologic Factors*
  • Lutein
  • Micronutrients / isolation & purification*
  • Micronutrients / pharmacology*
  • Phytochemicals / isolation & purification*
  • Phytochemicals / pharmacology*
  • Vitamin B 12

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Ergocalciferols
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Micronutrients
  • Phytochemicals
  • Folic Acid
  • Vitamin B 12
  • Lutein