Chlorella is a single-cell green alga that lives in freshwater, while <a href="/supplements/spirulina/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Spirulina&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Spirulina, commonly known as “blue-green algae”, is a nontoxic cyanobacterium that is rich in various nutrients and bioactive pigments and polyphenols. Spirulina contains many antioxidant compounds and could have beneficial cardiometabolic effects.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">spirulina</a>, despite its common name of “blue-green algae”, is a genus of cyanobacteria that forms filamentous, multicellular colonies in saltwater. The nutrient profiles of chlorella and spirulina are quite similar — both contain carbohydrates, protein, <a href="/supplements/folic-acid/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate, an essential B vitamin, found in dietary supplements and fortified foods. Folic acid reduces the risk of &lt;em&gt;neural tube defects&lt;/em&gt; (NTDs) when used in early pregnancy, treats certain types of anemia, and reduces levels of homocysteine, the latter of which may be linked to beneficial cardiovascular effects.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">folate</a>, <a href="/supplements/vitamin-b2/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Riboflavin is an essential vitamin that is required for some enzymes in the body to act normally. Supplementation of riboflavin is not outright required with a good diet, but may serve some benefits for cardiovascular health in genetically susceptible people.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">riboflavin</a>, <a href="/supplements/vitamin-b1/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Thiamine (Vitamin B1)&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thiamine (Vitamin B1) is an essential vitamin involved heavily in glucose production. While not a common deficiency in an otherwise healthy diet and limited benefits when taken by a healthy subject, instances of high blood glucose and/or alcoholism can increase the need for this vitamin drastically.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">thiamine</a>, <a href="/supplements/iron/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Iron&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Iron is an essential mineral best known for helping red blood cells to carry oxygen. Except in the case of deficiency, iron supplementation has no proven benefit; on the contrary, it can lead to side effects and increased oxidative stress.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">iron</a>, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, though chlorella contains more <a href="/supplements/fish-oil/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Fish Oil&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Fish oil is a source of omega-3 fatty acids. It reduces triglycerides, but does not seem to affect the rate of cardiovascular events. It seems to notably reduce the symptoms of depression and improve some painful, inflammatory conditions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">omega-3 fatty acids</a> while spirulina is higher in <a href="/supplements/omega-6-fatty-acids/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Omega-6 Fatty Acids&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Omega-6 fatty acids are essential polyunsaturated fats. That means humans must consume them through their diet from sources like nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils. Omega-6 fatty acids are crucial for proper brain development, metabolism, and normal growth and development.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">omega-6 fatty acids</a>. Spirulina also contains <a href="/supplements/copper/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Copper&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Copper is an essential mineral for antioxidative enzymes in the human body. While vital, it appears to be sufficient in the human diet and water supply with little evidence concerning its usefulness as a supplement. Excess copper is involved in some cases of Alzheimer's.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">copper</a>, which is absent from chlorella. Chlorella has higher levels of <a href="/supplements/vitamin-a/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Vitamin A&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vitamin A describes a group of metabolites involved in cell and tissue growth, and several bodily functions, including vision, bone metabolism, and immune function. Vitamin A metabolites include &lt;em&gt;preformed vitamin A&lt;/em&gt; — retinols, retinals, retinyl esters, and retinoic acids — and precursors (i.e., &lt;em&gt;provitamin A&lt;/em&gt; molecules) like beta-carotene, which can be converted by the body into the other forms of vitamin A.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">vitamin A</a>, <a href="/supplements/iron/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Iron&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Iron is an essential mineral best known for helping red blood cells to carry oxygen. Except in the case of deficiency, iron supplementation has no proven benefit; on the contrary, it can lead to side effects and increased oxidative stress.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">iron</a>, <a href="/supplements/magnesium/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Magnesium&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Magnesium is an essential dietary mineral that is involved in energy production, nervous system function, blood pressure regulation, and blood glucose control. A lack of magnesium in the diet — which is common in modern societies — is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other health conditions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">magnesium</a>, niacinamide, and <a href="/supplements/phosphorus/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Phosphorus&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Phosphorus isn’t commonly supplemented, even though it’s the second most plentiful mineral in our bodies, after calcium. That’s because most diets are typically plentiful in phosphorus, and too much can be an issue. However, certain diets and health conditions can cause phosphorus insufficiency.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">phosphorus</a> compared to spirulina.<a href="#ref-3" id="ref-link-3" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Bito T, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32825362" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Potential of as a Dietary Supplement to Promote Human Health.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Nutrients (2020-Aug-20)&lt;/div&gt;'>[3]</a><a href="#ref-32" id="ref-link-32" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;&lt;a href="https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170495/nutrients" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;FoodData Central
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;'>[32]</a> Finally, while chlorella supplements are a good source of vitamin B12, the B12 in spirulina supplements is often biologically-inactive pseudovitamin B12.<a href="#ref-29" id="ref-link-29" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Watanabe F, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24803097" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Vitamin B₁₂-containing plant food sources for vegetarians.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Nutrients (2014-May-05)&lt;/div&gt;'>[29]</a>
One key difference between these two microalgae is the way they’re produced: as a cyanobacterium, spirulina lacks a cellulose cell wall, and once it’s harvested and dried, it’s ready for consumption. This characteristic also improves spirulina’s bioavailability.<a href="#ref-33" id="ref-link-33" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;de la Jara et al.. &lt;a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-018-1468-4" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Impact of dietary Arthrospira (Spirulina) biomass consumption on human health: main health targets and systematic review
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;J Appl Phycol (May 2018)&lt;/div&gt;'>[33]</a> On the other hand, chlorella in its natural form does contain a cellulose cell wall, which must be broken down mechanically to make chlorella fit for human consumption.<a href="#ref-34" id="ref-link-34" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;&lt;a href="https://doi.org/10.15406/mojfpt.2018.06.00144" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Chlorella and spirulina microalgae as sources of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and food supplements; an overview
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;MOJ Food Processing &amp; Technology (2018-01-19)&lt;/div&gt;'>[34]</a>

What’s the difference between chlorella and spirulina?

Chlorella is a green microalga that is primarily composed of protein (up to 60% of its dry weight), including all of the essential and nonessential amino acids, with the most abundant of these being <a href="/foods/glutamate/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Glutamate&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Glutamate is a neurotransmitter produced by the body that plays an important role in learning, memory, and brain development. It is an amino acid found in many foods, most commonly as &lt;em&gt;monosodium glutamate&lt;/em&gt; (MSG), including tomatoes, cheese, mushrooms, seaweed, and soy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">glutamate</a>, <a href="/supplements/leucine/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Leucine&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Leucine is a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) and potent nutrient-based signal to activate protein synthesis.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">leucine</a>, <a href="/supplements/aspartate/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Aspartate&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Aspartate is a nonessential amino acid that the body makes naturally. When taken as a supplement, aspartate is often combined with minerals such as copper, magnesium, potassium, and zinc to improve athletic performance, brain health, and muscle strength.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">aspartate</a>, and <a href="/supplements/lysine/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Lysine&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lysine is an amino acid commonly paired with Vitamin C in many supplements. While an essential amino acid it does not hold much promise as a supplement beyond reducing the symptoms of herpes simplex.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">lysine</a>. Chlorella also contains fatty acids — mostly alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid — and carbohydrates, most of which are polysaccharides (dietary fibers), including alpha-glucans and <a href="/supplements/beta-glucans/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Beta-Glucans&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Beta-glucans are a type of fiber derived from cereals (e.g., oats, barley), seaweed, bacteria, and fungi. Their biological effects are influenced by their structure, which varies depending on the source. Cereal beta-glucans can lower cholesterol, while fungal beta-glucans may boost immunity.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">beta-glucans</a>.<a href="#ref-3" id="ref-link-3" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Bito T, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32825362" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Potential of as a Dietary Supplement to Promote Human Health.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Nutrients (2020-Aug-20)&lt;/div&gt;'>[3]</a>
Chlorella is also a rich source of micronutrients, including the minerals sodium, <a href="/supplements/potassium/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Potassium&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Potassium is essential for normal bodily function. It is obtained in the diet and found in several foods. Potassium-containing drugs are sometimes used to treat certain conditions. Potassium salts (e.g. potassium chloride) are used in reduced-sodium added-potassium salt substitute interventions and in sodium restriction diets to help treat high blood pressure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">potassium</a>, <a href="/supplements/iron/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Iron&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Iron is an essential mineral best known for helping red blood cells to carry oxygen. Except in the case of deficiency, iron supplementation has no proven benefit; on the contrary, it can lead to side effects and increased oxidative stress.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">iron</a>, <a href="/supplements/calcium/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Calcium&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Calcium is a dietary macromineral found in high amounts in dairy products, and to a lesser extent in vegetables. Used primarily to support bone health, calcium also has a role in maternal and cardiovascular health.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">calcium</a>, <a href="/supplements/magnesium/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Magnesium&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Magnesium is an essential dietary mineral that is involved in energy production, nervous system function, blood pressure regulation, and blood glucose control. A lack of magnesium in the diet — which is common in modern societies — is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other health conditions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">magnesium</a>, and <a href="/supplements/zinc/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Zinc&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Zinc is an essential mineral that is critical for the function of hundreds of enzymes. Consequently, it plays many roles, including in antioxidant enzymes, brain function, and the immune system. Zinc is most commonly taken to reduce the duration of respiratory infections and the common cold.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">zinc</a>; vitamins <a href="/supplements/vitamin-a/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Vitamin A&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vitamin A describes a group of metabolites involved in cell and tissue growth, and several bodily functions, including vision, bone metabolism, and immune function. Vitamin A metabolites include &lt;em&gt;preformed vitamin A&lt;/em&gt; — retinols, retinals, retinyl esters, and retinoic acids — and precursors (i.e., &lt;em&gt;provitamin A&lt;/em&gt; molecules) like beta-carotene, which can be converted by the body into the other forms of vitamin A.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">A</a>, <a href="/supplements/vitamin-c/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Vitamin C&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is an essential vitamin and a very popular supplement due to its antioxidant properties, safety profile, and low price. Many people supplement with vitamin C because it is believed to reduce symptoms of the common cold.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">C</a>, <a href="/supplements/vitamin-e/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Vitamin E&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vitamin E is a group of eight different compounds which, collectively, help support antioxidation in the body. Benefits of high doses have uncertain safety, and lower doses seem effective in boosting immunity in the elderly.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">E</a>, <a href="/supplements/vitamin-k/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Vitamin K&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vitamin K is an essential vitamin found in plants or produced from intestinal bacteria. It plays an essential role in bone health and regulates blood clotting.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">K1</a> and the B vitamins (notably vitamin B12); and <a href="/foods/carotenoids/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Carotenoids&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Carotenoids are the orange, red, and yellow pigments found in plants that give them their distinct colors and provide dietary antioxidants such as vitamin A. There are over 600 carotenoids, but the most common include beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, and zeaxanthin.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">carotenoids</a>, including <a href="/supplements/astaxanthin/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Astaxanthin&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Astaxanthin is an aquatic carotenoid like fucoxanthin, but is the red pigment in salmon and krill; the most stable of all carotenoids and touted to aid in eye health. Limited human evidence suggests that it has some positive effects on oxidative stress, but it's unclear if it's particularly effective for any health outcomes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">astaxanthin</a>, <a href="/supplements/zeaxanthin/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Zeaxanthin&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Zeaxanthin is a carotenoid commonly used alongside lutein for preserving retinal health.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">zeaxanthin</a>, <a href="/supplements/vitamin-a/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Vitamin A&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vitamin A describes a group of metabolites involved in cell and tissue growth, and several bodily functions, including vision, bone metabolism, and immune function. Vitamin A metabolites include &lt;em&gt;preformed vitamin A&lt;/em&gt; — retinols, retinals, retinyl esters, and retinoic acids — and precursors (i.e., &lt;em&gt;provitamin A&lt;/em&gt; molecules) like beta-carotene, which can be converted by the body into the other forms of vitamin A.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">beta-carotene</a>, and <a href="/supplements/lutein/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Lutein&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lutein, as well as the related zeaxanthin, are carotenoid structures similar to pre-vitamin A (β-carotene) and involved in eye health. A dietary component of eggs, lutein appears to be effective for this claim and a general antioxidant.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">lutein</a>. Because chlorella is a rich source of vitamin B12, it’s often consumed as a plant-based source of this nutrient by vegans and vegetarians.

What is chlorella?

Diets that exclude meat are associated with lower intakes of several <a href="/supplements/b-vitamins/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;B Vitamins&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;B vitamins are a class of vitamins that are used for many functions in the body. Vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6, vitamin B7 (biotin), vitamin B9 (folic acid) and vitamin B12 (cobalamin) are all B vitamins.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">B vitamins</a>, including B2 (<a href="/supplements/vitamin-b2/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Riboflavin is an essential vitamin that is required for some enzymes in the body to act normally. Supplementation of riboflavin is not outright required with a good diet, but may serve some benefits for cardiovascular health in genetically susceptible people.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">riboflavin</a>), B3 (<a href="/supplements/vitamin-b3/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Niacin (Vitamin B3)&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Niacin is an essential B-vitamin. Supplementation results in improved cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, since a side-effect of supplementation is increased insulin resistance, niacin supplementation only provides benefits for cardiovascular health if precautions are taken.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">niacin</a>), and B12 (<a href="/supplements/vitamin-b12/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin that plays a role in neurological function and is important for DNA synthesis.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">cyanocobalamin</a>). Notably, chlorella is a good source of vitamin B12 and may contain up to 400 micrograms of B12 per 100 grams of chlorella, depending on the source and the growing conditions; to put this in context, 400 micrograms of vitamin B12 is almost 200% of the recommended daily amount of B12 for adults.<a href="#ref-3" id="ref-link-3" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Bito T, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32825362" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Potential of as a Dietary Supplement to Promote Human Health.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Nutrients (2020-Aug-20)&lt;/div&gt;'>[3]</a> For this reason, chlorella is often consumed as a plant-based source of vitamin B12 (and other B vitamins) by <a href="/diets/vegan/" class="popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Vegan Diet&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vegan diets exclude all animal products. Veganism has rapidly increased in popularity, although randomized trials are still few in number. Trials do show promise for a variety of outcomes, from weight loss to autoimmunity, although comparisons to other popular diets are rare. A vegan diet should be balanced and low in processed foods (e.g. a "Whole Food Plant-Based diet") for optimal results.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;'>vegans</a> and vegetarians.
Vegans with a vitamin B12 deficiency who supplemented with 9 grams of chlorella per day for 60 days reduced their levels of serum methylmalonic acid (an index of B12 deficiency) and <a href="/outcomes/homocysteine/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Homocysteine&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Homocysteine is a biomarker of cardiovascular disease, and it is thought that higher circulating levels of homocysteine are indicative of a higher risk for cardiovascular incidents.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">homocysteine</a> and increased their serum B12.<a href="#ref-28" id="ref-link-28" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Merchant RE, Phillips TW, Udani J. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26485478" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Nutritional Supplementation with Chlorella pyrenoidosa Lowers Serum Methylmalonic Acid in Vegans and Vegetarians with a Suspected Vitamin B₁₂ Deficiency.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;J Med Food (2015-Dec)&lt;/div&gt;'>[28]</a>. In one cross-sectional study, vegans who reported consuming chlorella and/or nori (seaweed sheets made from a type of purple algae that also contains vitamin B12)<a href="#ref-29" id="ref-link-29" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Watanabe F, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24803097" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Vitamin B₁₂-containing plant food sources for vegetarians.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Nutrients (2014-May-05)&lt;/div&gt;'>[29]</a> had serum levels of vitamin B12 almost twice as high as those not consuming these foods.<a href="#ref-30" id="ref-link-30" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Rauma AL, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7562085" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Vitamin B-12 status of long-term adherents of a strict uncooked vegan diet (&amp;quot;living food diet&amp;quot;) is compromised
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;J Nutr (1995 Oct)&lt;/div&gt;'>[30]</a>

Should vegans and vegetarians supplement with chlorella?

Several components of chlorella — essential and non-essential amino acids, fatty acids, pigments, vitamins, and minerals — make it attractive as an ergogenic aid for sports and exercise. Unfortunately, it’s hard to know which components of chlorella might be responsible for its exercise-related benefits.
A few studies have noted that a chlorella-derived supplement increased maximal oxygen consumption (i.e., VO2max or VO2peak) after 4 weeks.<a href="#ref-10" id="ref-link-10" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Umemoto S, Otsuki T. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25320462" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Chlorella-derived multicomponent supplementation increases aerobic endurance capacity in young individuals.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;J Clin Biochem Nutr (2014-Sep)&lt;/div&gt;'>[10]</a><a href="#ref-11" id="ref-link-11" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Zempo-Miyaki A, Maeda S, Otsuki T. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28955131" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Effect of -derived multicomponent supplementation on maximal oxygen uptake and serum vitamin B concentration in young men.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;J Clin Biochem Nutr (2017-Sep)&lt;/div&gt;'>[11]</a> In trained cyclists, 21 days of chlorella supplementation (6 grams per day) reduced their <a href="/outcomes/heart-rate/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Heart Rate&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Heart Rate is a term used to refer to the amount of beats a heart gives in X amount of time, usually a minute. Heart rate is variable, and should be constant; arrythmia (irregular beats) are a cause for concern, and some supplements (usually stimulants) influence Heart Rate.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">heart rate</a> and <a href="/outcomes/lactate-production/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Blood Lactate (Exercise)&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lactate can be produced during prolonged exercise, and while it is not thought to contribute to muscular failure it seems to be a good biomarker of it. Reductions in lactate production tend to be associated with prolonged physical endurance.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">blood lactate</a> levels during a 1-hour submaximal cycling test and increased their average peak power during a set of short sprints. <a href="/outcomes/hemoglobin/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Hemoglobin&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Hemoglobin is the protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells for delivery to tissues throughout the body.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">Hemoglobin</a> — the oxygen-carrying protein in our blood — also increased after chlorella supplementation.<a href="#ref-12" id="ref-link-12" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Gurney T, Brouner J, Spendiff O. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36905653" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;The Efficacy of Chlorella Supplementation on Multiple Indices of Cycling Performance.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;J Diet Suppl (2024)&lt;/div&gt;'>[12]</a> Supplementing with chlorella (1.2 grams per day) for 7 days also reduced the inflammatory response and improved <a href="/outcomes/insulin/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Insulin&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Insulin is a hormone that rises when blood glucose rises. It lowers blood glucose by telling cells to absorb and use it. If your cells’ insulin sensitivity is low, they won’t absorb enough glucose — you have insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">insulin</a> sensitivity after eccentric exercise (downhill running).<a href="#ref-31" id="ref-link-31" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Samadi M et al. &lt;a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-020-00656-0" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Effect of Chlorella vulgaris supplementation with eccentric exercise on serum interleukin 6 and insulin resistance in overweight men
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Sport Sci Health (Jun 2020)&lt;/div&gt;'>[31]</a>
Combining chlorella with exercise may also have benefits for reducing <a href="/outcomes/blood-glucose/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Blood glucose&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;How much glucose, or blood sugar, is floating around in your blood. Fasting blood glucose is measured when your stomach is empty (usually before breakfast), whereas postprandial blood glucose is checked after a meal. Both are used as indicators of diabetes risk.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">blood glucose</a> and improving insulin sensitivity,<a href="#ref-21" id="ref-link-21" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Horii N, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30928787" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Effect of combination of chlorella intake and aerobic exercise training on glycemic control in type 2 diabetic rats.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Nutrition (2019)&lt;/div&gt;'>[21]</a> as well as reducing <a href="/outcomes/waist-circumference/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Waist circumference&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Waist circumference is a common anthropometric measure of abdominal obesity. A waist circumference greater than 40 inches (102 cm) in men and 35 inches (89 cm) in women increases the risk for chronic disease.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">waist circumference</a>, <a href="/outcomes/visceralfat/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Visceral Fat&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visceral fat refers to fat located in the abdominal cavity and around the internal organs and differs from subcutaneous fat, which is located under the skin, and intramuscular fat, which is found in muscle tissue.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">visceral fat</a>, total fat mass, and markers of <a href="/conditions/atherosclerosis/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Atherosclerosis&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Atherosclerosis is the buildup of lipid-rich plaque on arteries’ interior lining. While symptomless early on, it can lead to artery blockage and increased clot formation, which can cause a wide range of serious diseases, most commonly coronary heart disease and stroke. Lifestyle factors, such as poor diet, little exercise, and smoking, can be integral in the progression of atherosclerosis and its associated diseases.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">atherosclerosis</a> in women with overweight and obesity.<a href="#ref-8" id="ref-link-8" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Sanayei M, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34178863" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;in combination with high intensity interval training in overweight and obese women: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;J Diabetes Metab Disord (2021-Jun)&lt;/div&gt;'>[8]</a><a href="#ref-12" id="ref-link-12" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Gurney T, Brouner J, Spendiff O. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36905653" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;The Efficacy of Chlorella Supplementation on Multiple Indices of Cycling Performance.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;J Diet Suppl (2024)&lt;/div&gt;'>[12]</a>

Does chlorella improve exercise performance?

Although the evidence in humans is somewhat limited, chlorella appears to reduce <a href="/outcomes/blood-pressure/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Blood Pressure&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Blood pressure is the force that blood exerts on blood vessels as it circulates. &lt;em&gt;High&lt;/em&gt; blood pressure (&lt;em&gt;hyper&lt;/em&gt;tension) and &lt;em&gt;low&lt;/em&gt; blood pressure (&lt;em&gt;hypo&lt;/em&gt;tension) can each lead to a variety of health issues.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">blood pressure</a><a href="#ref-4" id="ref-link-4" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Shimada M, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19811362" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Anti-hypertensive effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-rich Chlorella on high-normal blood pressure and borderline hypertension in placebo-controlled double blind study
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Clin Exp Hypertens (2009 Jun)&lt;/div&gt;'>[4]</a> and enhance immune system function.<a href="#ref-5" id="ref-link-5" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Otsuki T, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21906314" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Salivary secretory immunoglobulin A secretion increases after 4-weeks ingestion of chlorella-derived multicomponent supplement in humans: a randomized cross over study
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Nutr J (2011 Sep 9)&lt;/div&gt;'>[5]</a> For pregnant women, chlorella supplementation is well-tolerated, may reduce the risk of pregnancy-associated anemia, is associated with less <a href="/outcomes/leg-edema/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Leg Edema&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Leg swelling is a transient state of edema caused by prolonged sitting, and may occur even during walking in persons with poor circulation or during the later months of pregnancy. Some supplements that improve blood circulation may help with leg swelling.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">leg edema</a>, and increases levels of <a href="/outcomes/immunoglobulin-a/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Immunoglobulin A&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is an antibody that is mainly secreted in mucous membranes that protect against infection from pathogens such as viruses and bacteria.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">immunoglobulin A</a> in breast milk.<a href="#ref-6" id="ref-link-6" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Shiro Nakano, Hideo Takekoshi, Masuo Nakano. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20013055" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Chlorella pyrenoidosa supplementation reduces the risk of anemia, proteinuria and edema in pregnant women
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Plant Foods Hum Nutr (2010 Mar)&lt;/div&gt;'>[6]</a><a href="#ref-7" id="ref-link-7" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Nakashima Y, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19699777" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Preventive effects of Chlorella on cognitive decline in age-dependent dementia model mice.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Neurosci Lett (2009-Oct-30)&lt;/div&gt;'>[7]</a> 
Chlorella has synergistic effects with exercise on <a href="/conditions/body-composition/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Body Composition&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Body composition refers to the relative percentage of fat, muscle, and bone in someone’s body. Body composition is sometimes reported as fat and fat-free mass.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">body composition</a> and metabolic health.<a href="#ref-8" id="ref-link-8" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Sanayei M, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34178863" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;in combination with high intensity interval training in overweight and obese women: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;J Diabetes Metab Disord (2021-Jun)&lt;/div&gt;'>[8]</a><a href="#ref-9" id="ref-link-9" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Sanayei M, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34433510" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;High-intensity interval training with or without chlorella vulgaris supplementation in obese and overweight women: effects on mitochondrial biogenesis, performance and body composition.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Br J Nutr (2022-Jul-28)&lt;/div&gt;'>[9]</a> It also may be ergogenic, improving maximal and submaximal exercise performance in healthy adults, adults with <a href="/conditions/overweight/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Overweight&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Overweight is characterized as having a &lt;em&gt;body mass index&lt;/em&gt; bmi|(BMI) of 25 to 29.9. Having overweight is associated with increased risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease. However, this may not be the case in people with increased lean mass (e.g., athletes or weight lifters).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">overweight</a>/<a href="/conditions/obesity/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Obesity&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Obesity is a condition of excessive body fat that increases the risk for other conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Fat is how the body stores extra calories that were eaten but not used. Obesity treatment usually involves restricting the calories eaten or creating negative calorie balance.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">obesity</a>, and trained athletes.<a href="#ref-10" id="ref-link-10" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Umemoto S, Otsuki T. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25320462" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Chlorella-derived multicomponent supplementation increases aerobic endurance capacity in young individuals.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;J Clin Biochem Nutr (2014-Sep)&lt;/div&gt;'>[10]</a><a href="#ref-11" id="ref-link-11" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Zempo-Miyaki A, Maeda S, Otsuki T. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28955131" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Effect of -derived multicomponent supplementation on maximal oxygen uptake and serum vitamin B concentration in young men.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;J Clin Biochem Nutr (2017-Sep)&lt;/div&gt;'>[11]</a><a href="#ref-12" id="ref-link-12" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Gurney T, Brouner J, Spendiff O. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36905653" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;The Efficacy of Chlorella Supplementation on Multiple Indices of Cycling Performance.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;J Diet Suppl (2024)&lt;/div&gt;'>[12]</a>

What are chlorella’s main benefits?

Because chlorella contains a cellulose cell wall (unlike <a href="/supplements/spirulina/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Spirulina&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Spirulina, commonly known as “blue-green algae”, is a nontoxic cyanobacterium that is rich in various nutrients and bioactive pigments and polyphenols. Spirulina contains many antioxidant compounds and could have beneficial cardiometabolic effects.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">spirulina</a>), it must undergo mechanical processing to break down these cell walls before human consumption to avoid gastrointestinal side effects like <a href="/outcomes/nausea-symptoms/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Nausea Symptoms&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Nausea is the feeling of acute sickness that may result in vomiting and loss of appetite. Some supplements are known as antiemetics, and are used to reduce the sensation of nausea when taken.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">nausea</a>, <a href="/outcomes/vomiting/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Vomiting&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vomiting is the expulsion of stomach contents from the mouth. It can be triggered from a variety of causes such as infection, dizziness, and pregnancy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">vomiting</a>, and stomach pain.<a href="#ref-13" id="ref-link-13" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Lorenzo K, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37432326" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Bioactivity of Macronutrients from in Physical Exercise.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Nutrients (2023-Apr-30)&lt;/div&gt;'>[13]</a> Furthermore, some studies have confirmed that chlorella is an allergen, so some individuals (notably children) may be sensitive to it or want to avoid its consumption.<a href="#ref-14" id="ref-link-14" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Tiberg E, Dreborg S, Björkstén B. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7636063" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Allergy to green algae (Chlorella) among children.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;J Allergy Clin Immunol (1995-Aug)&lt;/div&gt;'>[14]</a>

What are chlorella’s main drawbacks?

Supplementing with chlorella reduces <a href="/faq/what-is-oxidative-stress/">oxidative stress</a> and increases the activity of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in rats<a href="#ref-15" id="ref-link-15" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Vijayavel K, Anbuselvam C, Balasubramanian MP. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17457522" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Antioxidant effect of the marine algae Chlorella vulgaris against naphthalene-induced oxidative stress in the albino rats.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Mol Cell Biochem (2007-Sep)&lt;/div&gt;'>[15]</a> and increases <a href="/outcomes/anti-oxidant-enzyme-profile/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Antioxidant enzymes (usually glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase) are known to protect the body from oxidative damage, and increasing their levels or activity can confer protection from oxidative damage.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">antioxidant activity</a> (by increasing levels of catalase and <a href="/outcomes/superoxidedismutaseacitvity/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Superoxide Dismutase Activity&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Superoxide dismutase is an enzyme that destroys dead cells and neutralizes pathogens or toxins.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">superoxide dismutase</a>) in male smokers.<a href="#ref-16" id="ref-link-16" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Lee SH, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19660910" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Six-week supplementation with Chlorella has favorable impact on antioxidant status in Korean male smokers
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Nutrition (2010 Feb)&lt;/div&gt;'>[16]</a> In humans, chlorella has notable antilipidemic, antihypertensive, and antihyperglycemic effects — it reduces <a href="/outcomes/total-cholesterol/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Total cholesterol&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Total cholesterol refers to all the cholesterol in your blood (HDL-C and LDL-C). It is distinct from triglycerides.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">total</a> and <a href="/outcomes/ldl-c/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;LDL carries cholesterol from the liver to other parts of the body. Because higher levels of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) tend to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), LDL-C is often called the “bad cholesterol” (as opposed to HDL-C) — but the reality is more complex.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">LDL</a> cholesterol, systolic and diastolic <a href="/outcomes/blood-pressure/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Blood Pressure&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Blood pressure is the force that blood exerts on blood vessels as it circulates. &lt;em&gt;High&lt;/em&gt; blood pressure (&lt;em&gt;hyper&lt;/em&gt;tension) and &lt;em&gt;low&lt;/em&gt; blood pressure (&lt;em&gt;hypo&lt;/em&gt;tension) can each lead to a variety of health issues.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">blood pressure</a>, and <a href="/outcomes/blood-glucose/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Blood glucose&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;How much glucose, or blood sugar, is floating around in your blood. Fasting blood glucose is measured when your stomach is empty (usually before breakfast), whereas postprandial blood glucose is checked after a meal. Both are used as indicators of diabetes risk.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">blood glucose</a>.<a href="#ref-17" id="ref-link-17" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Sherafati N, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35331862" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Effect of supplementation with Chlorella vulgaris on lipid profile in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Complement Ther Med (2022-Jun)&lt;/div&gt;'>[17]</a><a href="#ref-18" id="ref-link-18" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Fallah AA, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29037431" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Effect of Chlorella supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Clin Nutr (2018-Dec)&lt;/div&gt;'>[18]</a> 
The blood-glucose-lowering effects of chlorella may be due to its ability to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in the liver and skeletal muscles;<a href="#ref-19" id="ref-link-19" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Jong-Yuh C, Mei-Fen S. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15964314" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Potential hypoglycemic effects of Chlorella in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Life Sci (2005-Jul-15)&lt;/div&gt;'>[19]</a><a href="#ref-20" id="ref-link-20" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Cherng JY, Shih MF. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16289560" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Improving glycogenesis in Streptozocin (STZ) diabetic mice after administration of green algae Chlorella.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Life Sci (2006-Feb-09)&lt;/div&gt;'>[20]</a> these effects may be more potent when chlorella is combined with exercise training.<a href="#ref-21" id="ref-link-21" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Horii N, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30928787" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Effect of combination of chlorella intake and aerobic exercise training on glycemic control in type 2 diabetic rats.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Nutrition (2019)&lt;/div&gt;'>[21]</a> Certain constituents of chlorella bind to digested dietary fat, increase the scavenging of LDL cholesterol, and reduce the absorption of sterols in the intestine, explaining chlorella’s cholesterol-lowering effects.<a href="#ref-22" id="ref-link-22" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Ryu NH, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24920270" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Impact of daily Chlorella consumption on serum lipid and carotenoid profiles in mildly hypercholesterolemic adults: a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Nutr J (2014-Jun-11)&lt;/div&gt;'>[22]</a><a href="#ref-23" id="ref-link-23" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Cherng JY, Shih MF. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15850594" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Preventing dyslipidemia by Chlorella pyrenoidosa in rats and hamsters after chronic high fat diet treatment.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Life Sci (2005-May-13)&lt;/div&gt;'>[23]</a><a href="#ref-24" id="ref-link-24" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Gurney T, Spendiff O. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35321288" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Algae Supplementation for Exercise Performance: Current Perspectives and Future Directions for Spirulina and Chlorella.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Front Nutr (2022)&lt;/div&gt;'>[24]</a>
Chlorella has exhibited detoxifying effects. It inhibited the intestinal absorption of dioxins (environmental contaminants and pollutants) in animal models and the absorption of heterocyclic amines in humans.<a href="#ref-25" id="ref-link-25" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Morita K, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10460212" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Chlorella accelerates dioxin excretion in rats.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;J Nutr (1999-Sep)&lt;/div&gt;'>[25]</a> Chlorella also reduced mercury levels in the hair and blood of healthy adults.<a href="#ref-26" id="ref-link-26" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Lee I, et al. &lt;a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25590673" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Detoxification of chlorella supplement on heterocyclic amines in Korean young adults.
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Environ Toxicol Pharmacol (2015-Jan)&lt;/div&gt;'>[26]</a><a href="#ref-27" id="ref-link-27" class="ref-link popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;p class="mb-3"&gt;Maruyama et al.. &lt;a href="https://doi.org/10.2131/fts.5.117" target="\_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Chlorella supplementation decreases methylmercury concentrations of hair and blood in healthy volunteers
&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;Fundamental Toxicological Sciences (2018)&lt;/div&gt;'>[27]</a>

How does chlorella work?

Chlorella

Immunity & Infectious Disease

A Single Dose of Marine  Increases Plasma Concentrations of Lutein, β-Carotene and Zeaxanthin in Healthy Male Volunteers.

The effects of Chlorella supplementation on glycemic control, lipid profile and anthropometric measures on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Potential of  as a Dietary Supplement to Promote Human Health.

Anti-hypertensive effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-rich Chlorella on high-normal blood pressure and borderline hypertension in placebo-controlled double blind study

Salivary secretory immunoglobulin A secretion increases after 4-weeks ingestion of chlorella-derived multicomponent supplement in humans: a randomized cross over study

Chlorella pyrenoidosa supplementation reduces the risk of anemia, proteinuria and edema in pregnant women

Preventive effects of Chlorella on cognitive decline in age-dependent dementia model mice.

in combination with high intensity interval training in overweight and obese women: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.

High-intensity interval training with or without chlorella vulgaris supplementation in obese and overweight women: effects on mitochondrial biogenesis, performance and body composition.

Chlorella-derived multicomponent supplementation increases aerobic endurance capacity in young individuals.

Effect of -derived multicomponent supplementation on maximal oxygen uptake and serum vitamin B concentration in young men.

The Efficacy of Chlorella Supplementation on Multiple Indices of Cycling Performance.

Bioactivity of Macronutrients from  in Physical Exercise.

Allergy to green algae (Chlorella) among children.

Antioxidant effect of the marine algae Chlorella vulgaris against naphthalene-induced oxidative stress in the albino rats.

Six-week supplementation with Chlorella has favorable impact on antioxidant status in Korean male smokers

Effect of supplementation with Chlorella vulgaris on lipid profile in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Effect of Chlorella supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Potential hypoglycemic effects of Chlorella in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Improving glycogenesis in Streptozocin (STZ) diabetic mice after administration of green algae Chlorella.

Effect of combination of chlorella intake and aerobic exercise training on glycemic control in type 2 diabetic rats.

Impact of daily Chlorella consumption on serum lipid and carotenoid profiles in mildly hypercholesterolemic adults: a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Preventing dyslipidemia by Chlorella pyrenoidosa in rats and hamsters after chronic high fat diet treatment.

Algae Supplementation for Exercise Performance: Current Perspectives and Future Directions for Spirulina and Chlorella.

Chlorella accelerates dioxin excretion in rats.

Detoxification of chlorella supplement on heterocyclic amines in Korean young adults.

Chlorella supplementation decreases methylmercury concentrations of hair and blood in healthy volunteers

Nutritional Supplementation with Chlorella pyrenoidosa Lowers Serum Methylmalonic Acid in Vegans and Vegetarians with a Suspected Vitamin B₁₂ Deficiency.

Vitamin B₁₂-containing plant food sources for vegetarians.

Vitamin B-12 status of long-term adherents of a strict uncooked vegan diet ("living food diet") is compromised

Effect of Chlorella vulgaris supplementation with eccentric exercise on serum interleukin 6 and insulin resistance in overweight men

FoodData Central

Impact of dietary Arthrospira (Spirulina) biomass consumption on human health: main health targets and systematic review

Chlorella and spirulina microalgae as sources of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and food supplements; an overview

Nick Milazzo

Conni Covington

Natalka Roshak

Brady Holmer

Liver Health

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Blood Pressure

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Fasting Glucose

High-density lipoprotein (HDL)

Liver Enzymes

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)

Total cholesterol

Triglycerides

Cardiovascular Health

High Blood Pressure

Heart Rate

Weight

High Cholesterol

Diabetes & Blood Sugar

Type 2 Diabetes

Dyslipidemia

Healthy Aging

Allergies & Immunity

Immune Health

Immunity

Body Fat

Vaccine Augmentation

Pregnancy And Delivery Health

Anemia Risk

Leg Edema

Proteinuria

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia Symptoms

Fat Loss

Obesity

General Liver Health

Vegetarians & Vegans

Iron Deficiency Anemia

Metabolic Health

Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile

DNA Damage

Metabolic Syndrome

Safety and immunoenhancing effect of a Chlorella-derived dietary supplement in healthy adults undergoing influenza vaccination: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Quantifying the Impact of Algae Supplement on Blood Pressure: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Nutritional supplementation with Chlorella pyrenoidosa for patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: a pilot study

Quantifying the Effect of Supplementation with Algae and Its Extracts on Glycolipid Metabolism: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Effect of Chlorella vulgaris on Liver Function Biomarkers: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Chlorella is a single-cell green alga that lives in freshwater, while <a href="/supplements/spirulina/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Spirulina&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Spirulina, commonly known as “blue-green algae”, is a nontoxic cyanobacterium that is rich in various nutrients and bioactive pigments and polyphenols. Spirulina contains many antioxidant compounds and could have beneficial cardiometabolic effects.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">spirulina</a>, despite its common name of “blue-green algae”, is a genus of cyanobacteria that forms filamentous, multicellular colonies in saltwater. The nutrient profiles of chlorella and spirulina are quite similar — both contain carbohydrates, protein, <a href="/supplements/folic-acid/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate, an essential B vitamin, found in dietary supplements and fortified foods. Folic acid reduces the risk of &lt;em&gt;neural tube defects&lt;/em&gt; (NTDs) when used in early pregnancy, treats certain types of anemia, and reduces levels of homocysteine, the latter of which may be linked to beneficial cardiovascular effects.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">folate</a>, <a href="/supplements/vitamin-b2/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Riboflavin is an essential vitamin that is required for some enzymes in the body to act normally. Supplementation of riboflavin is not outright required with a good diet, but may serve some benefits for cardiovascular health in genetically susceptible people.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">riboflavin</a>, <a href="/supplements/vitamin-b1/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Thiamine (Vitamin B1)&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thiamine (Vitamin B1) is an essential vitamin involved heavily in glucose production. While not a common deficiency in an otherwise healthy diet and limited benefits when taken by a healthy subject, instances of high blood glucose and/or alcoholism can increase the need for this vitamin drastically.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">thiamine</a>, <a href="/supplements/iron/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Iron&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Iron is an essential mineral best known for helping red blood cells to carry oxygen. Except in the case of deficiency, iron supplementation has no proven benefit; on the contrary, it can lead to side effects and increased oxidative stress.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">iron</a>, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, though chlorella contains more <a href="/supplements/fish-oil/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Fish Oil&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Fish oil is a source of omega-3 fatty acids. It reduces triglycerides, but does not seem to affect the rate of cardiovascular events. It seems to notably reduce the symptoms of depression and improve some painful, inflammatory conditions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">omega-3 fatty acids</a> while spirulina is higher in <a href="/supplements/omega-6-fatty-acids/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Omega-6 Fatty Acids&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Omega-6 fatty acids are essential polyunsaturated fats. That means humans must consume them through their diet from sources like nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils. Omega-6 fatty acids are crucial for proper brain development, metabolism, and normal growth and development.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">omega-6 fatty acids</a>. Spirulina also contains <a href="/supplements/copper/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Copper&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Copper is an essential mineral for antioxidative enzymes in the human body. While vital, it appears to be sufficient in the human diet and water supply with little evidence concerning its usefulness as a supplement. Excess copper is involved in some cases of Alzheimer's.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">copper</a>, which is absent from chlorella. Chlorella has higher levels of <a href="/supplements/vitamin-a/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Vitamin A&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vitamin A describes a group of metabolites involved in cell and tissue growth, and several bodily functions, including vision, bone metabolism, and immune function. Vitamin A metabolites include &lt;em&gt;preformed vitamin A&lt;/em&gt; — retinols, retinals, retinyl esters, and retinoic acids — and precursors (i.e., &lt;em&gt;provitamin A&lt;/em&gt; molecules) like beta-carotene, which can be converted by the body into the other forms of vitamin A.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">vitamin A</a>, <a href="/supplements/iron/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Iron&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Iron is an essential mineral best known for helping red blood cells to carry oxygen. Except in the case of deficiency, iron supplementation has no proven benefit; on the contrary, it can lead to side effects and increased oxidative stress.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">iron</a>, <a href="/supplements/magnesium/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Magnesium&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Magnesium is an essential dietary mineral that is involved in energy production, nervous system function, blood pressure regulation, and blood glucose control. A lack of magnesium in the diet — which is common in modern societies — is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other health conditions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">magnesium</a>, niacinamide, and <a href="/supplements/phosphorus/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Phosphorus&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Phosphorus isn’t commonly supplemented, even though it’s the second most plentiful mineral in our bodies, after calcium. That’s because most diets are typically plentiful in phosphorus, and too much can be an issue. However, certain diets and health conditions can cause phosphorus insufficiency.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">phosphorus</a> compared to spirulina.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32825362|title=Potential of as a Dietary Supplement to Promote Human Health.|published=2020-Aug-20|authors=Bito T, Okumura E, Fujishima M, Watanabe F|journal=Nutrients|][reference|url=https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170495/nutrients|title=FoodData Central] Finally, while chlorella supplements are a good source of vitamin B12, the B12 in spirulina supplements is often biologically-inactive pseudovitamin B12.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24803097|title=Vitamin B₁₂-containing plant food sources for vegetarians.|published=2014-May-05|authors=Watanabe F, Yabuta Y, Bito T, Teng F|journal=Nutrients|]
One key difference between these two microalgae is the way they’re produced: as a cyanobacterium, spirulina lacks a cellulose cell wall, and once it’s harvested and dried, it’s ready for consumption. This characteristic also improves spirulina’s bioavailability.[reference|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-018-1468-4|title=Impact of dietary Arthrospira (Spirulina) biomass consumption on human health: main health targets and systematic review|authors=de la Jara et al.|journal=J Appl Phycol|published=May 2018] On the other hand, chlorella in its natural form does contain a cellulose cell wall, which must be broken down mechanically to make chlorella fit for human consumption.[reference|url=https://doi.org/10.15406/mojfpt.2018.06.00144|title=Chlorella and spirulina microalgae as sources of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and food supplements; an overview|journal=MOJ Food Processing &amp; Technology|published=2018-01-19]

Chlorella is a green microalga that is primarily composed of protein (up to 60% of its dry weight), including all of the essential and nonessential amino acids, with the most abundant of these being <a href="/foods/glutamate/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Glutamate&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Glutamate is a neurotransmitter produced by the body that plays an important role in learning, memory, and brain development. It is an amino acid found in many foods, most commonly as &lt;em&gt;monosodium glutamate&lt;/em&gt; (MSG), including tomatoes, cheese, mushrooms, seaweed, and soy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">glutamate</a>, <a href="/supplements/leucine/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Leucine&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Leucine is a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) and potent nutrient-based signal to activate protein synthesis.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">leucine</a>, <a href="/supplements/aspartate/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Aspartate&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Aspartate is a nonessential amino acid that the body makes naturally. When taken as a supplement, aspartate is often combined with minerals such as copper, magnesium, potassium, and zinc to improve athletic performance, brain health, and muscle strength.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">aspartate</a>, and <a href="/supplements/lysine/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Lysine&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lysine is an amino acid commonly paired with Vitamin C in many supplements. While an essential amino acid it does not hold much promise as a supplement beyond reducing the symptoms of herpes simplex.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">lysine</a>. Chlorella also contains fatty acids — mostly alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid — and carbohydrates, most of which are polysaccharides (dietary fibers), including alpha-glucans and <a href="/supplements/beta-glucans/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Beta-Glucans&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Beta-glucans are a type of fiber derived from cereals (e.g., oats, barley), seaweed, bacteria, and fungi. Their biological effects are influenced by their structure, which varies depending on the source. Cereal beta-glucans can lower cholesterol, while fungal beta-glucans may boost immunity.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">beta-glucans</a>.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32825362|title=Potential of as a Dietary Supplement to Promote Human Health.|published=2020-Aug-20|authors=Bito T, Okumura E, Fujishima M, Watanabe F|journal=Nutrients|]
Chlorella is also a rich source of micronutrients, including the minerals sodium, <a href="/supplements/potassium/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Potassium&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Potassium is essential for normal bodily function. It is obtained in the diet and found in several foods. Potassium-containing drugs are sometimes used to treat certain conditions. Potassium salts (e.g. potassium chloride) are used in reduced-sodium added-potassium salt substitute interventions and in sodium restriction diets to help treat high blood pressure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">potassium</a>, <a href="/supplements/iron/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Iron&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Iron is an essential mineral best known for helping red blood cells to carry oxygen. Except in the case of deficiency, iron supplementation has no proven benefit; on the contrary, it can lead to side effects and increased oxidative stress.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">iron</a>, <a href="/supplements/calcium/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Calcium&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Calcium is a dietary macromineral found in high amounts in dairy products, and to a lesser extent in vegetables. Used primarily to support bone health, calcium also has a role in maternal and cardiovascular health.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">calcium</a>, <a href="/supplements/magnesium/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Magnesium&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Magnesium is an essential dietary mineral that is involved in energy production, nervous system function, blood pressure regulation, and blood glucose control. A lack of magnesium in the diet — which is common in modern societies — is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other health conditions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">magnesium</a>, and <a href="/supplements/zinc/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Zinc&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Zinc is an essential mineral that is critical for the function of hundreds of enzymes. Consequently, it plays many roles, including in antioxidant enzymes, brain function, and the immune system. Zinc is most commonly taken to reduce the duration of respiratory infections and the common cold.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">zinc</a>; vitamins <a href="/supplements/vitamin-a/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Vitamin A&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vitamin A describes a group of metabolites involved in cell and tissue growth, and several bodily functions, including vision, bone metabolism, and immune function. Vitamin A metabolites include &lt;em&gt;preformed vitamin A&lt;/em&gt; — retinols, retinals, retinyl esters, and retinoic acids — and precursors (i.e., &lt;em&gt;provitamin A&lt;/em&gt; molecules) like beta-carotene, which can be converted by the body into the other forms of vitamin A.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">A</a>, <a href="/supplements/vitamin-c/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Vitamin C&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is an essential vitamin and a very popular supplement due to its antioxidant properties, safety profile, and low price. Many people supplement with vitamin C because it is believed to reduce symptoms of the common cold.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">C</a>, <a href="/supplements/vitamin-e/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Vitamin E&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vitamin E is a group of eight different compounds which, collectively, help support antioxidation in the body. Benefits of high doses have uncertain safety, and lower doses seem effective in boosting immunity in the elderly.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">E</a>, <a href="/supplements/vitamin-k/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Vitamin K&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vitamin K is an essential vitamin found in plants or produced from intestinal bacteria. It plays an essential role in bone health and regulates blood clotting.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">K1</a> and the B vitamins (notably vitamin B12); and <a href="/foods/carotenoids/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Carotenoids&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Carotenoids are the orange, red, and yellow pigments found in plants that give them their distinct colors and provide dietary antioxidants such as vitamin A. There are over 600 carotenoids, but the most common include beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, and zeaxanthin.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">carotenoids</a>, including <a href="/supplements/astaxanthin/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Astaxanthin&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Astaxanthin is an aquatic carotenoid like fucoxanthin, but is the red pigment in salmon and krill; the most stable of all carotenoids and touted to aid in eye health. Limited human evidence suggests that it has some positive effects on oxidative stress, but it's unclear if it's particularly effective for any health outcomes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">astaxanthin</a>, <a href="/supplements/zeaxanthin/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Zeaxanthin&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Zeaxanthin is a carotenoid commonly used alongside lutein for preserving retinal health.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">zeaxanthin</a>, <a href="/supplements/vitamin-a/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Vitamin A&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vitamin A describes a group of metabolites involved in cell and tissue growth, and several bodily functions, including vision, bone metabolism, and immune function. Vitamin A metabolites include &lt;em&gt;preformed vitamin A&lt;/em&gt; — retinols, retinals, retinyl esters, and retinoic acids — and precursors (i.e., &lt;em&gt;provitamin A&lt;/em&gt; molecules) like beta-carotene, which can be converted by the body into the other forms of vitamin A.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">beta-carotene</a>, and <a href="/supplements/lutein/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Lutein&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lutein, as well as the related zeaxanthin, are carotenoid structures similar to pre-vitamin A (β-carotene) and involved in eye health. A dietary component of eggs, lutein appears to be effective for this claim and a general antioxidant.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">lutein</a>. Because chlorella is a rich source of vitamin B12, it’s often consumed as a plant-based source of this nutrient by vegans and vegetarians.

Diets that exclude meat are associated with lower intakes of several <a href="/supplements/b-vitamins/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;B Vitamins&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;B vitamins are a class of vitamins that are used for many functions in the body. Vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6, vitamin B7 (biotin), vitamin B9 (folic acid) and vitamin B12 (cobalamin) are all B vitamins.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">B vitamins</a>, including B2 (<a href="/supplements/vitamin-b2/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Riboflavin is an essential vitamin that is required for some enzymes in the body to act normally. Supplementation of riboflavin is not outright required with a good diet, but may serve some benefits for cardiovascular health in genetically susceptible people.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">riboflavin</a>), B3 (<a href="/supplements/vitamin-b3/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Niacin (Vitamin B3)&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Niacin is an essential B-vitamin. Supplementation results in improved cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, since a side-effect of supplementation is increased insulin resistance, niacin supplementation only provides benefits for cardiovascular health if precautions are taken.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">niacin</a>), and B12 (<a href="/supplements/vitamin-b12/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin that plays a role in neurological function and is important for DNA synthesis.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">cyanocobalamin</a>). Notably, chlorella is a good source of vitamin B12 and may contain up to 400 micrograms of B12 per 100 grams of chlorella, depending on the source and the growing conditions; to put this in context, 400 micrograms of vitamin B12 is almost 200% of the recommended daily amount of B12 for adults.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32825362|title=Potential of as a Dietary Supplement to Promote Human Health.|published=2020-Aug-20|authors=Bito T, Okumura E, Fujishima M, Watanabe F|journal=Nutrients|] For this reason, chlorella is often consumed as a plant-based source of vitamin B12 (and other B vitamins) by <a href="/diets/vegan/" class="popover" data-tooltip='&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Vegan Diet&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vegan diets exclude all animal products. Veganism has rapidly increased in popularity, although randomized trials are still few in number. Trials do show promise for a variety of outcomes, from weight loss to autoimmunity, although comparisons to other popular diets are rare. A vegan diet should be balanced and low in processed foods (e.g. a "Whole Food Plant-Based diet") for optimal results.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;'>vegans</a> and vegetarians.
Vegans with a vitamin B12 deficiency who supplemented with 9 grams of chlorella per day for 60 days reduced their levels of serum methylmalonic acid (an index of B12 deficiency) and <a href="/outcomes/homocysteine/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Homocysteine&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Homocysteine is a biomarker of cardiovascular disease, and it is thought that higher circulating levels of homocysteine are indicative of a higher risk for cardiovascular incidents.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">homocysteine</a> and increased their serum B12.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26485478|title=Nutritional Supplementation with Chlorella pyrenoidosa Lowers Serum Methylmalonic Acid in Vegans and Vegetarians with a Suspected Vitamin B₁₂ Deficiency.|published=2015-Dec|authors=Merchant RE, Phillips TW, Udani J|journal=J Med Food|]. In one cross-sectional study, vegans who reported consuming chlorella and/or nori (seaweed sheets made from a type of purple algae that also contains vitamin B12)[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24803097|title=Vitamin B₁₂-containing plant food sources for vegetarians.|published=2014-May-05|authors=Watanabe F, Yabuta Y, Bito T, Teng F|journal=Nutrients|] had serum levels of vitamin B12 almost twice as high as those not consuming these foods.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7562085|title=Vitamin B-12 status of long-term adherents of a strict uncooked vegan diet ("living food diet") is compromised|published=1995 Oct|authors=Rauma AL, Törrönen R, Hänninen O, Mykkänen H|journal=J Nutr|]

Several components of chlorella — essential and non-essential amino acids, fatty acids, pigments, vitamins, and minerals — make it attractive as an ergogenic aid for sports and exercise. Unfortunately, it’s hard to know which components of chlorella might be responsible for its exercise-related benefits.
A few studies have noted that a chlorella-derived supplement increased maximal oxygen consumption (i.e., VO2max or VO2peak) after 4 weeks.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25320462|title=Chlorella-derived multicomponent supplementation increases aerobic endurance capacity in young individuals.|published=2014-Sep|authors=Umemoto S, Otsuki T|journal=J Clin Biochem Nutr|][reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28955131|title=Effect of -derived multicomponent supplementation on maximal oxygen uptake and serum vitamin B concentration in young men.|published=2017-Sep|authors=Zempo-Miyaki A, Maeda S, Otsuki T|journal=J Clin Biochem Nutr|] In trained cyclists, 21 days of chlorella supplementation (6 grams per day) reduced their <a href="/outcomes/heart-rate/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Heart Rate&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Heart Rate is a term used to refer to the amount of beats a heart gives in X amount of time, usually a minute. Heart rate is variable, and should be constant; arrythmia (irregular beats) are a cause for concern, and some supplements (usually stimulants) influence Heart Rate.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">heart rate</a> and <a href="/outcomes/lactate-production/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Blood Lactate (Exercise)&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Lactate can be produced during prolonged exercise, and while it is not thought to contribute to muscular failure it seems to be a good biomarker of it. Reductions in lactate production tend to be associated with prolonged physical endurance.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">blood lactate</a> levels during a 1-hour submaximal cycling test and increased their average peak power during a set of short sprints. <a href="/outcomes/hemoglobin/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Hemoglobin&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Hemoglobin is the protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells for delivery to tissues throughout the body.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">Hemoglobin</a> — the oxygen-carrying protein in our blood — also increased after chlorella supplementation.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36905653|title=The Efficacy of Chlorella Supplementation on Multiple Indices of Cycling Performance.|published=2024|authors=Gurney T, Brouner J, Spendiff O|journal=J Diet Suppl|] Supplementing with chlorella (1.2 grams per day) for 7 days also reduced the inflammatory response and improved <a href="/outcomes/insulin/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Insulin&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Insulin is a hormone that rises when blood glucose rises. It lowers blood glucose by telling cells to absorb and use it. If your cells’ insulin sensitivity is low, they won’t absorb enough glucose — you have insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">insulin</a> sensitivity after eccentric exercise (downhill running).[reference|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-020-00656-0|title=Effect of Chlorella vulgaris supplementation with eccentric exercise on serum interleukin 6 and insulin resistance in overweight men|authors=Samadi M et al|journal=Sport Sci Health|published=Jun 2020]
Combining chlorella with exercise may also have benefits for reducing <a href="/outcomes/blood-glucose/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Blood glucose&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;How much glucose, or blood sugar, is floating around in your blood. Fasting blood glucose is measured when your stomach is empty (usually before breakfast), whereas postprandial blood glucose is checked after a meal. Both are used as indicators of diabetes risk.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">blood glucose</a> and improving insulin sensitivity,[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30928787|title=Effect of combination of chlorella intake and aerobic exercise training on glycemic control in type 2 diabetic rats.|published=2019|authors=Horii N, Hasegawa N, Fujie S, Uchida M, Iemitsu K, Inoue K, Iemitsu M|journal=Nutrition|] as well as reducing <a href="/outcomes/waist-circumference/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Waist circumference&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Waist circumference is a common anthropometric measure of abdominal obesity. A waist circumference greater than 40 inches (102 cm) in men and 35 inches (89 cm) in women increases the risk for chronic disease.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">waist circumference</a>, <a href="/outcomes/visceralfat/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Visceral Fat&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visceral fat refers to fat located in the abdominal cavity and around the internal organs and differs from subcutaneous fat, which is located under the skin, and intramuscular fat, which is found in muscle tissue.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">visceral fat</a>, total fat mass, and markers of <a href="/conditions/atherosclerosis/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Atherosclerosis&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Atherosclerosis is the buildup of lipid-rich plaque on arteries’ interior lining. While symptomless early on, it can lead to artery blockage and increased clot formation, which can cause a wide range of serious diseases, most commonly coronary heart disease and stroke. Lifestyle factors, such as poor diet, little exercise, and smoking, can be integral in the progression of atherosclerosis and its associated diseases.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">atherosclerosis</a> in women with overweight and obesity.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34178863|title=in combination with high intensity interval training in overweight and obese women: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.|published=2021-Jun|authors=Sanayei M, Izadi A, Hajizadeh-Sharafabad F, Amirsasan R, Kaviani M, Barzegar A|journal=J Diabetes Metab Disord|][reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36905653|title=The Efficacy of Chlorella Supplementation on Multiple Indices of Cycling Performance.|published=2024|authors=Gurney T, Brouner J, Spendiff O|journal=J Diet Suppl|]

Although the evidence in humans is somewhat limited, chlorella appears to reduce <a href="/outcomes/blood-pressure/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Blood Pressure&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Blood pressure is the force that blood exerts on blood vessels as it circulates. &lt;em&gt;High&lt;/em&gt; blood pressure (&lt;em&gt;hyper&lt;/em&gt;tension) and &lt;em&gt;low&lt;/em&gt; blood pressure (&lt;em&gt;hypo&lt;/em&gt;tension) can each lead to a variety of health issues.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">blood pressure</a>[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19811362|title=Anti-hypertensive effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-rich Chlorella on high-normal blood pressure and borderline hypertension in placebo-controlled double blind study|published=2009 Jun|authors=Shimada M, Hasegawa T, Nishimura C, Kan H, Kanno T, Nakamura T, Matsubayashi T|journal=Clin Exp Hypertens|] and enhance immune system function.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21906314|title=Salivary secretory immunoglobulin A secretion increases after 4-weeks ingestion of chlorella-derived multicomponent supplement in humans: a randomized cross over study|published=2011 Sep 9|authors=Otsuki T, Shimizu K, Iemitsu M, Kono I|journal=Nutr J|] For pregnant women, chlorella supplementation is well-tolerated, may reduce the risk of pregnancy-associated anemia, is associated with less <a href="/outcomes/leg-edema/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Leg Edema&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Leg swelling is a transient state of edema caused by prolonged sitting, and may occur even during walking in persons with poor circulation or during the later months of pregnancy. Some supplements that improve blood circulation may help with leg swelling.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">leg edema</a>, and increases levels of <a href="/outcomes/immunoglobulin-a/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Immunoglobulin A&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is an antibody that is mainly secreted in mucous membranes that protect against infection from pathogens such as viruses and bacteria.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">immunoglobulin A</a> in breast milk.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20013055|title=Chlorella pyrenoidosa supplementation reduces the risk of anemia, proteinuria and edema in pregnant women|published=2010 Mar|authors=Shiro Nakano, Hideo Takekoshi, Masuo Nakano|journal=Plant Foods Hum Nutr|][reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19699777|title=Preventive effects of Chlorella on cognitive decline in age-dependent dementia model mice.|published=2009-Oct-30|authors=Nakashima Y, Ohsawa I, Konishi F, Hasegawa T, Kumamoto S, Suzuki Y, Ohta S|journal=Neurosci Lett|] 
Chlorella has synergistic effects with exercise on <a href="/conditions/body-composition/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Body Composition&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Body composition refers to the relative percentage of fat, muscle, and bone in someone’s body. Body composition is sometimes reported as fat and fat-free mass.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">body composition</a> and metabolic health.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34178863|title=in combination with high intensity interval training in overweight and obese women: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.|published=2021-Jun|authors=Sanayei M, Izadi A, Hajizadeh-Sharafabad F, Amirsasan R, Kaviani M, Barzegar A|journal=J Diabetes Metab Disord|][reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34433510|title=High-intensity interval training with or without chlorella vulgaris supplementation in obese and overweight women: effects on mitochondrial biogenesis, performance and body composition.|published=2022-Jul-28|authors=Sanayei M, Hajizadeh-Sharafabad F, Amirsasan R, Barzegar A|journal=Br J Nutr|] It also may be ergogenic, improving maximal and submaximal exercise performance in healthy adults, adults with <a href="/conditions/overweight/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Overweight&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Overweight is characterized as having a &lt;em&gt;body mass index&lt;/em&gt; bmi|(BMI) of 25 to 29.9. Having overweight is associated with increased risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease. However, this may not be the case in people with increased lean mass (e.g., athletes or weight lifters).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">overweight</a>/<a href="/conditions/obesity/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Obesity&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Obesity is a condition of excessive body fat that increases the risk for other conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Fat is how the body stores extra calories that were eaten but not used. Obesity treatment usually involves restricting the calories eaten or creating negative calorie balance.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">obesity</a>, and trained athletes.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25320462|title=Chlorella-derived multicomponent supplementation increases aerobic endurance capacity in young individuals.|published=2014-Sep|authors=Umemoto S, Otsuki T|journal=J Clin Biochem Nutr|][reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28955131|title=Effect of -derived multicomponent supplementation on maximal oxygen uptake and serum vitamin B concentration in young men.|published=2017-Sep|authors=Zempo-Miyaki A, Maeda S, Otsuki T|journal=J Clin Biochem Nutr|][reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36905653|title=The Efficacy of Chlorella Supplementation on Multiple Indices of Cycling Performance.|published=2024|authors=Gurney T, Brouner J, Spendiff O|journal=J Diet Suppl|]

Because chlorella contains a cellulose cell wall (unlike <a href="/supplements/spirulina/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Spirulina&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Spirulina, commonly known as “blue-green algae”, is a nontoxic cyanobacterium that is rich in various nutrients and bioactive pigments and polyphenols. Spirulina contains many antioxidant compounds and could have beneficial cardiometabolic effects.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">spirulina</a>), it must undergo mechanical processing to break down these cell walls before human consumption to avoid gastrointestinal side effects like <a href="/outcomes/nausea-symptoms/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Nausea Symptoms&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Nausea is the feeling of acute sickness that may result in vomiting and loss of appetite. Some supplements are known as antiemetics, and are used to reduce the sensation of nausea when taken.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">nausea</a>, <a href="/outcomes/vomiting/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Vomiting&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Vomiting is the expulsion of stomach contents from the mouth. It can be triggered from a variety of causes such as infection, dizziness, and pregnancy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">vomiting</a>, and stomach pain.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37432326|title=Bioactivity of Macronutrients from in Physical Exercise.|published=2023-Apr-30|authors=Lorenzo K, Santocildes G, Torrella JR, Magalhães J, Pagès T, Viscor G, Torres JL, Ramos-Romero S|journal=Nutrients|] Furthermore, some studies have confirmed that chlorella is an allergen, so some individuals (notably children) may be sensitive to it or want to avoid its consumption.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7636063|title=Allergy to green algae (Chlorella) among children.|published=1995-Aug|authors=Tiberg E, Dreborg S, Björkstén B|journal=J Allergy Clin Immunol|]

Supplementing with chlorella reduces <a href="/faq/what-is-oxidative-stress/">oxidative stress</a> and increases the activity of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in rats[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17457522|title=Antioxidant effect of the marine algae Chlorella vulgaris against naphthalene-induced oxidative stress in the albino rats.|published=2007-Sep|authors=Vijayavel K, Anbuselvam C, Balasubramanian MP|journal=Mol Cell Biochem|] and increases <a href="/outcomes/anti-oxidant-enzyme-profile/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Antioxidant enzymes (usually glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase) are known to protect the body from oxidative damage, and increasing their levels or activity can confer protection from oxidative damage.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">antioxidant activity</a> (by increasing levels of catalase and <a href="/outcomes/superoxidedismutaseacitvity/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Superoxide Dismutase Activity&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Superoxide dismutase is an enzyme that destroys dead cells and neutralizes pathogens or toxins.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">superoxide dismutase</a>) in male smokers.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19660910|title=Six-week supplementation with Chlorella has favorable impact on antioxidant status in Korean male smokers|published=2010 Feb|authors=Lee SH, Kang HJ, Lee HJ, Kang MH, Park YK|journal=Nutrition|] In humans, chlorella has notable antilipidemic, antihypertensive, and antihyperglycemic effects — it reduces <a href="/outcomes/total-cholesterol/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Total cholesterol&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Total cholesterol refers to all the cholesterol in your blood (HDL-C and LDL-C). It is distinct from triglycerides.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">total</a> and <a href="/outcomes/ldl-c/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;LDL carries cholesterol from the liver to other parts of the body. Because higher levels of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) tend to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), LDL-C is often called the “bad cholesterol” (as opposed to HDL-C) — but the reality is more complex.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">LDL</a> cholesterol, systolic and diastolic <a href="/outcomes/blood-pressure/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Blood Pressure&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;Blood pressure is the force that blood exerts on blood vessels as it circulates. &lt;em&gt;High&lt;/em&gt; blood pressure (&lt;em&gt;hyper&lt;/em&gt;tension) and &lt;em&gt;low&lt;/em&gt; blood pressure (&lt;em&gt;hypo&lt;/em&gt;tension) can each lead to a variety of health issues.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">blood pressure</a>, and <a href="/outcomes/blood-glucose/" class="popover" data-tooltip="&lt;div&gt;&lt;h6&gt;Blood glucose&lt;/h6&gt;&lt;p&gt;How much glucose, or blood sugar, is floating around in your blood. Fasting blood glucose is measured when your stomach is empty (usually before breakfast), whereas postprandial blood glucose is checked after a meal. Both are used as indicators of diabetes risk.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">blood glucose</a>.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35331862|title=Effect of supplementation with Chlorella vulgaris on lipid profile in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.|published=2022-Jun|authors=Sherafati N, Bideshki MV, Behzadi M, Mobarak S, Asadi M, Sadeghi O|journal=Complement Ther Med|][reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29037431|title=Effect of Chlorella supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.|published=2018-Dec|authors=Fallah AA, Sarmast E, Habibian Dehkordi S, Engardeh J, Mahmoodnia L, Khaledifar A, Jafari T|journal=Clin Nutr|] 
The blood-glucose-lowering effects of chlorella may be due to its ability to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in the liver and skeletal muscles;[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15964314|title=Potential hypoglycemic effects of Chlorella in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.|published=2005-Jul-15|authors=Jong-Yuh C, Mei-Fen S|journal=Life Sci|][reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16289560|title=Improving glycogenesis in Streptozocin (STZ) diabetic mice after administration of green algae Chlorella.|published=2006-Feb-09|authors=Cherng JY, Shih MF|journal=Life Sci|] these effects may be more potent when chlorella is combined with exercise training.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30928787|title=Effect of combination of chlorella intake and aerobic exercise training on glycemic control in type 2 diabetic rats.|published=2019|authors=Horii N, Hasegawa N, Fujie S, Uchida M, Iemitsu K, Inoue K, Iemitsu M|journal=Nutrition|] Certain constituents of chlorella bind to digested dietary fat, increase the scavenging of LDL cholesterol, and reduce the absorption of sterols in the intestine, explaining chlorella’s cholesterol-lowering effects.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24920270|title=Impact of daily Chlorella consumption on serum lipid and carotenoid profiles in mildly hypercholesterolemic adults: a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study.|published=2014-Jun-11|authors=Ryu NH, Lim Y, Park JE, Kim J, Kim JY, Kwon SW, Kwon O|journal=Nutr J|][reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15850594|title=Preventing dyslipidemia by Chlorella pyrenoidosa in rats and hamsters after chronic high fat diet treatment.|published=2005-May-13|authors=Cherng JY, Shih MF|journal=Life Sci|][reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35321288|title=Algae Supplementation for Exercise Performance: Current Perspectives and Future Directions for Spirulina and Chlorella.|published=2022|authors=Gurney T, Spendiff O|journal=Front Nutr|]
Chlorella has exhibited detoxifying effects. It inhibited the intestinal absorption of dioxins (environmental contaminants and pollutants) in animal models and the absorption of heterocyclic amines in humans.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10460212|title=Chlorella accelerates dioxin excretion in rats.|published=1999-Sep|authors=Morita K, Matsueda T, Iida T, Hasegawa T|journal=J Nutr|] Chlorella also reduced mercury levels in the hair and blood of healthy adults.[reference|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25590673|title=Detoxification of chlorella supplement on heterocyclic amines in Korean young adults.|published=2015-Jan|authors=Lee I, Tran M, Evans-Nguyen T, Stickle D, Kim S, Han J, Park JY, Yang M|journal=Environ Toxicol Pharmacol|][reference|url=https://doi.org/10.2131/fts.5.117|title=Chlorella supplementation decreases methylmercury concentrations of hair and blood in healthy volunteers|authors=Maruyama et al.|journal=Fundamental Toxicological Sciences|published=2018]

Fatigue

Diet and fibromyalgia

Joints & Bones

Does Chlorella vulgaris improve liver enzymes?

Chlorella

Don't miss out on the latest research