Chlorella Research
45 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 7.5/10
Identifying immunostimulatory herbal supplements that may flare autoimmune skin diseases: a systematic scoping review
Weiner JD et al. • Lupus science & medicine (2025)
We identified 227 herbal supplements with immunostimulatory properties, of which 15 were most strongly supported by the evidence.
- We identified 227 herbal supplements with immunostimulatory properties, of which 15 were most strongly supported by the evidence.
- This article may serve as a reference to help clinicians counsel patients with autoimmune skin diseases on the risks associated with use of specific herbal supplements.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Effect of supplementation with Chlorella vulgaris on lipid profile in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Sherafati N et al. • Complementary therapies in medicine (2022)
We found that Chlorella vulgaris supplementation had a beneficial effect on TC and LDL-C levels with no significant effect on TG and HDL-C levels.
- We found that Chlorella vulgaris supplementation had a beneficial effect on TC and LDL-C levels with no significant effect on TG and HDL-C levels.
- Published in Complementary therapies in medicine (2022)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Effects of Nutritional Interventions in Individuals with Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Furulund E et al. • International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2021)
Increasing intake of fruits and vegetables over prolonged periods might have positive effects on lung function in individuals with COPD.
- Increasing intake of fruits and vegetables over prolonged periods might have positive effects on lung function in individuals with COPD.
- Some nutritional interventions also observed effects on systemic inflammation, health-related quality of life, and physical function, although with some mixed results.
- Many of the trials were underpowered, had high dropout rates, or had a high risk of bias.
Effect of Chlorella supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Moradi S et al. • Clinical Nutrition (2020)
Chlorella supplementation significantly reduced diastolic blood pressure and improved lipid profiles in a meta-analysis of 19 RCTs.
- Diastolic blood pressure was significantly reduced by chlorella supplementation
- Total cholesterol and LDL-C were significantly improved
- Effects were more pronounced in subjects with elevated baseline values
Effect of Chlorella supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Fallah AA et al. • Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) (2018)
The results indicated that Chlorella supplementation improved levels of TC, LDL-C, SBP, DBP, and FBG but the changes in TG, HDL-C, and BMI were not satisfactory.
- Subgroup analyses based on intervention duration and Chlorella doses revealed that administration of Chlorella for 8 weeks or higher and doses higher than 4 g/day significantly reduced TC, LDL-C, SBP, and DBP levels in the participants.
- Moreover, Chlorella supplementation significantly reduced TC and LDL-C levels in unhealthy individuals, and also reduced SBP and DBP in hypertensive ones.
- The results indicated that Chlorella supplementation improved levels of TC, LDL-C, SBP, DBP, and FBG but the changes in TG, HDL-C, and BMI were not satisfactory.
Arthrospira platensis and Chlorella vulgaris Consumption on Iron Status: A Systematic Review of In Vivo Studies
Lacurezeanu A et al. • Molecular nutrition & food research (2025)
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.
- No significant adverse effects or organ toxicity were reported in any of the included studies.
- A. platensis and C. vulgaris are safe and effective microalgal supplements that enhance iron status and antioxidant defense, presenting promising alternatives to conventional iron therapy.
- However, longer-term human clinical trials are needed to validate these findings and determine optimal dosing strategies.© 2025 The Author(s).
The Effect of Algae Supplementation on Anthropometric Indices in Adults: A GRADE-Assessed Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Kazeminejad S et al. • Nutrition reviews (2025)
Overall, the findings of this meta-analysis indicate supplementation with algae may exert beneficial effects on anthropometric indices.
- Overall, the findings of this meta-analysis indicate supplementation with algae may exert beneficial effects on anthropometric indices.
- However, due to between-studies heterogeneity and very low to low levels of GRADE for significant outcomes, the results should be interpreted with caution.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Chlorella supplementation decreases body weight, serum lipids, and fasting blood glucose: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Fallah AA et al. • Complementary Therapies in Medicine (2018)
Chlorella supplementation significantly reduced total cholesterol, LDL-C, fasting blood glucose, and body weight.
- Chlorella significantly reduced total cholesterol (-14.57 mg/dL) and LDL-C (-11.27 mg/dL)
- Fasting blood glucose was reduced by -1.74 mg/dL
- Body weight was modestly but significantly reduced
The Role of Chlorella and Spirulina as Adjuvants of Cardiovascular Risk Factor Control: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials
Pinto-Leite M et al. • Nutrients (2025)
Conclusions: Further randomised trials are needed to better assess the potential of these supplements as adjuvants for the control of cardiovascular risk factors.
- On the other hand, Spirulina intake led to a significant reduction in diastolic BP (-0.42, 95% CI: -0.81 to -0.02, p = 0.04) but did not significantly affect lipemia indexes, despite a trend toward a reduction in total cholesterol (-0.17, 95% CI: -0.39 to 0.06, p = 0.15).
- This meta-analysis suggests Spirulina supplementation can be used as an adjuvant to control cardiometabolic risk factors, particularly for BP.
- However, the magnitude of this effect is small and of uncertain clinical significance.
Dietary Interventions in the Management of Fibromyalgia: A Systematic Review and Best-Evidence Synthesis
Lowry E et al. • Nutrients (2020)
Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to recommend any one particular nutritional intervention for the management of fibromyalgia and further research is needed.
- It is estimated to have a worldwide prevalence of 1.78%, with a predominance in females.
- Significant improvements in reported pain were observed for those following a vegan diet, as well as with the low fermentable oligo di-mono-saccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diets.
- Supplementation with Chlorella green algae, coenzyme Q10, acetyl-l-carnitine or a combination of vitamin C and E significantly improved measures of pain.
Algae and Algal Protein in Human Nutrition: A Narrative Review of Health Outcomes from Clinical Studies
Wang Z et al. • Nutrients (2026)
Consequently, while the evidence suggests the possibility of functional effects, the strength of the evidence and its generalizability across populations remains limited.
- This review synthesizes current studies, which demonstrate that algae represent a potent, sustainable protein source capable of enhancing dietary quality and promoting health.
- The integration of algae-based products into plant-forward diets has the potential to contribute to global nutritional security and long-term public health.
- However, the available clinical evidence remains heterogeneous and is largely based on small, short-term intervention studies, with substantial variability in algae species, processing methods and dosages.
Does Chlorella Supplementation Improve Adiposity, Metabolic Dysfunction, and Oxidative Stress in Individuals With Excess Weight? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Jafari A, Mardani H, Mahmoudinezhad M, Karimi MA, Musazadeh V, Sharifi M. • Food science & nutrition (2026)
Moreover, most included trials were conducted in Iran, which may restrict generalizability.
- Additionally, there were significant increases in catalase activity (WMD = 19.15 IU/g Hb, 95% CI: 0.44 to 37.85), and superoxide dismutase levels (WMD = 20.53 U/L, 95% CI: 15.03 to 26.02).
- Chlorella supplementation may benefit anthropometric and cardiometabolic outcomes in adults with overweight or obesity.
- However, the overall certainty of evidence was low to very low according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework, limiting confidence in these findings.
Chlorella Growth Factor: Biochemical Identity, Redox-Active Mechanisms, Nutritional Relevance, and Translational Implications
Rzeski W et al. • Nutrients (2026)
Further work integrating standardized analytical frameworks with mechanistic and clinical validation will be required to establish its role in human nutrition and functional food applications.
- Observed biological effects are consistent with a model of metabolic permissiveness, in which CGF-associated fractions may support endogenous cellular functions rather than directly initiating signaling cascades.
- Key translational challenges include the lack of compositional standardization, limited nucleotide speciation, variability in extraction protocols, and the absence of pharmacokinetic and controlled human studies using well-characterized CGF preparations.
- Overall, CGF may be conceptualized as a candidate dietary bioactive with redox-centered and metabolically permissive properties.
Beneficial effect of Chlorella pyrenoidosa drink on healthy subjects: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over clinical trial
Chiu HF et al. • Journal of food biochemistry (2021)
However, large-scale clinical studies are needed to confirm our statements.© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
- Thus, consumption of chlorella could significantly improve the overall health status by suppressing various oxidative stress markers and aging stress markers.
- In agreement with our hypothesis, our results also showed that subjected supplemented with Chlorella water extract could significantly improve overall health status by suppressing various oxidative stress markers and aging stress markers.
- Hence, Chlorella could be developed into a novel anti-aging agent.
A dietary cholesterol challenge study to assess Chlorella supplementation in maintaining healthy lipid levels in adults: a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study
Kim S et al. • Nutrition journal (2016)
The results suggest that a fully replicated dietary cholesterol challenge may be useful in assessing the effectiveness of dietary supplements in maintaining the serum lipid profiles of adults whose habitual diets are high in cholesterol.
- The results suggest that a fully replicated dietary cholesterol challenge may be useful in assessing the effectiveness of dietary supplements in maintaining the serum lipid profiles of adults whose habitual diets are high in cholesterol.
- Published in Nutrition journal (2016)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Chlorella Supplementation Reduces Blood Lactate Concentration and Increases O(2) Pulse during Submaximal and Maximal Cycling in Young Healthy Adults
White H et al. • Nutrients (2024)
A total of 2 days of 6 g/day chlorella supplementation appears to lower the blood lactate response and increase O2 pulse during both submaximal and maximal intensity exercise but did not lead to any improvements in V˙O2max.
- Exercise testing consisted of a 20 min submaximal cycle at 40% of their work rate max (WRmax) (watts), followed by an incremental V˙O2max test.
- Following chlorella supplementation, blood lactate levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05) during submaximal exercise (3.05 ± 0.92 mmol/L vs. 2.67 ± 0.79 mmol/L) and following V˙O2max tests (12.79 ± 2.61 mmol/L vs. 11.56 ± 3.43 mmol/L).
- No differences existed between conditions for oxygen consumption, RER, V˙O2max, or WRmax.
Impact of Regular Intake of Microalgae on Nutrient Supply and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Results from the NovAL Intervention Study
Sandgruber F et al. • Nutrients (2023)
An elevated uric acid concentration in blood and urine following the regular consumption of microalgae poses potential risks for human health.
- Serum and urine uric acid increased in IG1 and IG2 (p < 0.05).
- Microchloropsis is a valuable source of n3 fatty acids, as is Chlorella of vitamin D2.
- Regular consumption of Chlorella may affect the iron and selenium status negatively but may impact blood lipids positively.
Ingestion of a variety of non-animal-derived dietary protein sources results in diverse postprandial plasma amino acid responses which differ between young and older adults
van der Heijden I et al. • The British journal of nutrition (2024)
The ingestion of a variety of novel non-animal-derived dietary protein sources elicits divergent plasma amino acid responses, which are further modulated by age.
- Protein ingestion increased plasma total and essential amino acid concentrations (P < 0·001), to differing degrees between sources (P < 0·001), and the increase was further modulated by age (P < 0·001).
- Postprandial total and essential amino acid availabilities were highest for pea, spirulina and mycoprotein and lowest for chlorella (all P < 0·05), but no effect of age was observed (P > 0·05).
- The ingestion of a variety of novel non-animal-derived dietary protein sources elicits divergent plasma amino acid responses, which are further modulated by age.
The Efficacy of Chlorella Supplementation on Multiple Indices of Cycling Performance
Gurney T et al. • Journal of dietary supplements (2024)
In conclusion, chlorella may pose as an additional supplement for cyclists to consider, particularly for those cyclists who want to improve their sprinting.
- Each completed a 2-day testing period comprising a 1-hour submaximal endurance test at 55% external power output max and a 16.1 km time trial (Day-1), followed by a lactate threshold (Dmax) and repeated sprint performance tests (3 X 20 s sprints interspersed by 4-mins) (Day-2).
- Heart rate (b.min-1), RER, V̇O2 (ml·kg-1·min-1), lactate and glucose (mmol/L), time (secs), power output (W/kg), and hemoglobin (g/L) were compared across conditions.
- No differences existed between conditions for all oxygen consumption values, 16.1 km time trial measures and lactate threshold tests (p > 0.05).
The effects of Chlorella supplementation on glycemic control, lipid profile and anthropometric measures on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Hosseini AM et al. • European journal of nutrition (2021)
According to the findings of this study, supplementation with C. vulgaris with a dosage of 1500 mg/day for 8 weeks, does not improve the anthropometric measurements, glycemic status, and lipid profile as well.
- According to the findings of this study, supplementation with C. vulgaris with a dosage of 1500 mg/day for 8 weeks, does not improve the anthropometric measurements, glycemic status, and lipid profile as well.
- Thus, it cannot be considered as a complementary therapeutic approach to common medications at this dosage and duration.
- However, future studies with a higher dosage of C. vulgaris and more prolonged than 8 weeks are needed to be done.