| 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
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
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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