| Chlorella Benefits and Side Effects June 2007 |
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.
This article can not be used to replace your doctor's advise. It is for your
reference only. All rights reserved Zhion 2007
[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
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.
This article can not be used to replace your doctor's advise. It is for your
reference only. All rights reserved Zhion 2007
[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