A review of recent clinical trials of the nutritional supplement Chlorella pyrenoidosa in the treatment of fibromyalgia, hypertension, and ulcerative colitis.

ContextIt has been suggested that the consumption of natural "whole foods" rich in macronutrients has many healthful benefits for those who otherwise ingest a normal, nonvegetarian diet. One example is dietary supplements derived from Chlorella pyrenoidosa, a unicel- lular fresh water green alga rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals. ObjectiveTo find evidence of the potential of chlorella dietary sup- plements to relieve signs and symptoms, improve quality of life, and normalize body functions in people with chronic illnesses, specifically fibromyalgia, hypertension, and ulcerative colitis. DesignDouble-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials. SettingVirginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Virginia. PatientsFifty-five subjects with fibromyalgia, 33 with hyperten- sion, and 9 with ulcerative colitis. InterventionSubjects consumed 10 g of pure chlorella in tablet form and 100 mL of a liquid containing an extract of chlorella each day for 2 or 3 months. Main Outcome MeasuresFor fibromyalgia patients, assess- ments of pain and overall quality of life. For hypertensive patients, measurements of sitting diastolic blood pressure and serum lipid lev- els. For patients with ulcerative colitis, determination of state of dis- ease using the Disease Activity Index. ResultsDaily dietary supplementation with chlorella may reduce high blood pressure, lower serum cholesterol levels, accelerate wound healing, and enhance immune functions. ConclusionsThe potential of chlorella to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, and normalize body functions in patients with