Potential ofChlorellaas a Dietary Supplement to Promote Human Health

Chlorellais a green unicellular alga that is commercially produced and distributed worldwide as a dietary supplement.Chlorellaproducts contain numerous nutrients and vitamins, including D and B-12, that are absent in plant-derived food sources.Chlorellacontains larger amounts of folate and iron than other plant-derived foods.Chlorellasupplementation to mammals, including humans, has been reported to exhibit various pharmacological activities, including immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and antihyperlipidemic activities. Meta-analysis on the effects ofChlorellasupplementation on cardiovascular risk factors have suggested that it improves total cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose levels but not triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. These beneficial effects ofChlorellamight be due to synergism between multiple nutrient and antioxidant compounds. However, information regarding the bioactive compounds inChlorellais limited.