| Chlorella Benefits and Side Effects |
Chlorella is a genus of single-celled green algae, belonging to the phylum Chlorophyta. It is spherical in
shape, about 2 to 10 μm in diameter, and is without flagella. Chlorella contains the green photosynthetic
pigments chlorophyll-a and -b in its chloroplast. Through photosynthesis it multiplies rapidly requiring
only carbon dioxide, water, sunlight, and a small amount of minerals to reproduce. [1]
Chlorella is high in protein and other essential nutrients; when dried, it is about 45% protein, 20% fat,
20% carbohydrate, 5% fiber, and 10% minerals and vitamins. [1]
Animal studies suggest that chlorella may benefit our cardiovascular system via enhancing
vascular function.
Merchant RE and co-workers further recruited 33 people with blood pressure of 115/90 mg Hg. The
people cosumed dietary chlorella supplements (either 10 g Chlorella tablets or 100 mL of Chlorella
(Chlorella pyrenoidosa) extracts for two months. At the end of the study, only 25% of the subjects had
their diastolic blood pressure reduced to the goal. [3]
Sansawa H and co-workers from Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research, Japan, found that
intake of chorella regularies (dried cell powder) led to lower blood pressure in spontaneously
hypertensive rats. [7] At 21 week of feeding, serum total cholesterol of the rats was significantly
lowered. Intake of chlorella was also linked to a low incidence of cerebral vascular accidents in the rats.
[7] While, Shibata S and colleages from Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research, Japan
considered a cholrella powder as a hypocholesterolemic agent. In a rat study, they found that chlorella
powder exerted its hypocholesterolemic effect via an enhancement of cholesterol catabolism through up-
regulation of hepatic CYP7A1 expression. And, also a 3.08% Chlorella indigestible fraction contributed
to the hypocholesterolemic effect.[6]
Merchant RE and Andre CA.from Virginia Commonwealth University, VA, recruited 55 patients with
fibromyalgia, 33 with hypertension, and 9 with ulcerative colitis. Each patient consumed 10 g of pure
chlorella (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) in tablet form and 100 mL of a liquid containing an extract of chlorella
each day for 2 or 3 months. They found that daily dietary supplementation with chlorella reduced high
blood pressure, lowered serum cholesterol levels, accelerated wound healing, and enhanced immune
functions. [2]
Chlorella may benefit animals at risk of cancer. [1]
Vijayavel K and co-workers from University of Madras, India, proposed the anti-cancer or chemo-
preventive effect an alcohol extract of the marine algae Chlorella vulgaris based on its free radical
scavenging activities. [5]
Chorella may or may not benefit people suffered from fibromyalgia syndrome
In another study, Merchant RE and co-workers recruited 32 patients suffered from fibromyalgia
syndrome. Fibromyalgia syndrome is a common, chronic musculoskeletal disorder of unknown
aetiology. Patricipants consumed two commercially available Chlorella-based (Chlorella pyrenoidosa)
products, 10 g of 'Sun Chlorella' tablets and 100 mL of liquid 'Wakasa Gold' each day for two months.
Seven patients felt that the dietary supplement had improved their fibromyalgia symptoms, while six
thought they had experienced no change, and five believed the symptoms had worsened over the time
of the trial. [4]
What are the side effects of chorella?
Now, we know that intake of chorella may bring us a few important health benefits. Recently, I received
an email from a visitor about the side effect of chlorella. Intake of chorella increased his uric acid!
I also found a study reporting the rise of uric acid in the blood stream after intake of chorella in an
animal study. The researchers prepared larg scales dried Chlorella vulgaris and they fed rats with this
chlorella. They found a significant high content of uric acid in the plasma of the rats!! [8] High content of
uric acid is known to be linked to gout. Gout is a rheumatic disease resulting from deposition of uric acid
crystals (monosodium urate) in tissues and fluids within the body. This process is caused by an
overproduction or under excretion of uric acid. Other side effects include nausea and stomach upset.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorella [2] Merchant RE, Andre CA. A review of recent clinical trials of
the nutritional supplement Chlorella pyrenoidosa in the treatment of fibromyalgia, hypertension, and
ulcerative colitis.Altern Ther Health Med. 2001 May-Jun;7(3):79-91. [3] Merchant RE, Andre CA, Sica
DA. Nutritional supplementation with Chlorella pyrenoidosa for mild to moderate hypertension.J Med
Food. 2002 Fall;5(3):141-52. [4] Merchant RE et al, Nutritional supplementation with Chlorella
pyrenoidosa for patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: a pilot study.Phytother Res. 2000 May;14(3):167-
73 [5] Vijayavel K, Anbuselvam C, Balasubramanian MP. Antioxidant effect of the marine algae Chlorella
vulgaris against naphthalene-induced oxidative stress in the albino rats.Mol Cell Biochem. 2007 Apr 25
[6] Shibata S, Hayakawa K, Egashira Y, Sanada H. Hypocholesterolemic mechanism of Chlorella:
Chlorella and its indigestible fraction enhance hepatic cholesterol catabolism through up-regulation of
cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase in rats.Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2007 Apr;71(4):916-25. Epub 2007
Apr 7.[7] Sansawa H, Takahashi M, Tsuchikura S, Endo H. Effect of chlorella and its fractions on blood
pressure, cerebral stroke lesions, and life-span in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.: J
Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2006 Dec;52(6):457-66. [8] Saleh AM, Hussein LA, Abdalla FE, el-Fouly MM,
Shaheen AB.The nutritional quality of drum-dried algae produced in open door mass culture.Z
Ernahrungswiss. 1985 Dec;24(4):845-63. [9] www.bealydecker.com/Products.htm
shape, about 2 to 10 μm in diameter, and is without flagella. Chlorella contains the green photosynthetic
pigments chlorophyll-a and -b in its chloroplast. Through photosynthesis it multiplies rapidly requiring
only carbon dioxide, water, sunlight, and a small amount of minerals to reproduce. [1]
Chlorella is high in protein and other essential nutrients; when dried, it is about 45% protein, 20% fat,
20% carbohydrate, 5% fiber, and 10% minerals and vitamins. [1]
Animal studies suggest that chlorella may benefit our cardiovascular system via enhancing
vascular function.
Merchant RE and co-workers further recruited 33 people with blood pressure of 115/90 mg Hg. The
people cosumed dietary chlorella supplements (either 10 g Chlorella tablets or 100 mL of Chlorella
(Chlorella pyrenoidosa) extracts for two months. At the end of the study, only 25% of the subjects had
their diastolic blood pressure reduced to the goal. [3]
Sansawa H and co-workers from Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research, Japan, found that
intake of chorella regularies (dried cell powder) led to lower blood pressure in spontaneously
hypertensive rats. [7] At 21 week of feeding, serum total cholesterol of the rats was significantly
lowered. Intake of chlorella was also linked to a low incidence of cerebral vascular accidents in the rats.
[7] While, Shibata S and colleages from Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research, Japan
considered a cholrella powder as a hypocholesterolemic agent. In a rat study, they found that chlorella
powder exerted its hypocholesterolemic effect via an enhancement of cholesterol catabolism through up-
regulation of hepatic CYP7A1 expression. And, also a 3.08% Chlorella indigestible fraction contributed
to the hypocholesterolemic effect.[6]
Merchant RE and Andre CA.from Virginia Commonwealth University, VA, recruited 55 patients with
fibromyalgia, 33 with hypertension, and 9 with ulcerative colitis. Each patient consumed 10 g of pure
chlorella (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) in tablet form and 100 mL of a liquid containing an extract of chlorella
each day for 2 or 3 months. They found that daily dietary supplementation with chlorella reduced high
blood pressure, lowered serum cholesterol levels, accelerated wound healing, and enhanced immune
functions. [2]
Chlorella may benefit animals at risk of cancer. [1]
Vijayavel K and co-workers from University of Madras, India, proposed the anti-cancer or chemo-
preventive effect an alcohol extract of the marine algae Chlorella vulgaris based on its free radical
scavenging activities. [5]
Chorella may or may not benefit people suffered from fibromyalgia syndrome
In another study, Merchant RE and co-workers recruited 32 patients suffered from fibromyalgia
syndrome. Fibromyalgia syndrome is a common, chronic musculoskeletal disorder of unknown
aetiology. Patricipants consumed two commercially available Chlorella-based (Chlorella pyrenoidosa)
products, 10 g of 'Sun Chlorella' tablets and 100 mL of liquid 'Wakasa Gold' each day for two months.
Seven patients felt that the dietary supplement had improved their fibromyalgia symptoms, while six
thought they had experienced no change, and five believed the symptoms had worsened over the time
of the trial. [4]
What are the side effects of chorella?
Now, we know that intake of chorella may bring us a few important health benefits. Recently, I received
an email from a visitor about the side effect of chlorella. Intake of chorella increased his uric acid!
I also found a study reporting the rise of uric acid in the blood stream after intake of chorella in an
animal study. The researchers prepared larg scales dried Chlorella vulgaris and they fed rats with this
chlorella. They found a significant high content of uric acid in the plasma of the rats!! [8] High content of
uric acid is known to be linked to gout. Gout is a rheumatic disease resulting from deposition of uric acid
crystals (monosodium urate) in tissues and fluids within the body. This process is caused by an
overproduction or under excretion of uric acid. Other side effects include nausea and stomach upset.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorella [2] Merchant RE, Andre CA. A review of recent clinical trials of
the nutritional supplement Chlorella pyrenoidosa in the treatment of fibromyalgia, hypertension, and
ulcerative colitis.Altern Ther Health Med. 2001 May-Jun;7(3):79-91. [3] Merchant RE, Andre CA, Sica
DA. Nutritional supplementation with Chlorella pyrenoidosa for mild to moderate hypertension.J Med
Food. 2002 Fall;5(3):141-52. [4] Merchant RE et al, Nutritional supplementation with Chlorella
pyrenoidosa for patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: a pilot study.Phytother Res. 2000 May;14(3):167-
73 [5] Vijayavel K, Anbuselvam C, Balasubramanian MP. Antioxidant effect of the marine algae Chlorella
vulgaris against naphthalene-induced oxidative stress in the albino rats.Mol Cell Biochem. 2007 Apr 25
[6] Shibata S, Hayakawa K, Egashira Y, Sanada H. Hypocholesterolemic mechanism of Chlorella:
Chlorella and its indigestible fraction enhance hepatic cholesterol catabolism through up-regulation of
cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase in rats.Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2007 Apr;71(4):916-25. Epub 2007
Apr 7.[7] Sansawa H, Takahashi M, Tsuchikura S, Endo H. Effect of chlorella and its fractions on blood
pressure, cerebral stroke lesions, and life-span in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.: J
Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2006 Dec;52(6):457-66. [8] Saleh AM, Hussein LA, Abdalla FE, el-Fouly MM,
Shaheen AB.The nutritional quality of drum-dried algae produced in open door mass culture.Z
Ernahrungswiss. 1985 Dec;24(4):845-63. [9] www.bealydecker.com/Products.htm
Discuss with your doctor before taking any alternative medicine. This article is for
reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
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