title: Impact of daily Chlorella consumption on serum lipid and carotenoid profiles in mildly hypercholesterolemic adults: a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High level of serum cholesterol is considered to be a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). A double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was performed to test the hypothesis that a daily intake of Chlorella may improve serum lipid profile through enhancement of serum carotenoid concentration in mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible subjects (n = 63) were randomized to either Chlorella (5 g/day) or placebo for a double-blinded trial with a 2-week lead-in period and a 4-week intervention period. Serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins and carotenoids were assessed at the beginning and the end of the trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, the Chlorella group exhibited remarkable changes in total cholesterol (Chlorella -1.6%; placebo 0.03%; P = 0.036), triglycerides (Chlorella -10.3%; placebo 11.9%; P = 0.002), lutein/zeaxanthin (Chlorella 89.6%; placebo -1.7%; P < 0.0001), and α-carotene (Chlorella 163.6%; placebo 15%; P < 0.0001). Improvement of serum lipids was supported by significant reductions of very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (Chlorella -11%; placebo 11.8%; P = 0.006), apolipoprotein B (Chlorella -1.5%; placebo 1.7%; P = 0.044), non high-density lipoprotein (Chlorella -2.6%; placebo -0.5%; P = 0.032), and high-density lipoprotein/triglycerides (Chlorella 4.0%; placebo -9.5%; P = 0.023), suggesting an inhibitory effect of Chlorella on the intestinal absorption of dietary and endogenous lipids. Further, the changes of serum lipids appeared to be associated with the changes of serum carotenoids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily consumption of Chlorella supplements provided the potential of health benefits reducing serum lipid risk factors, mainly triglycerides and total cholesterol, in mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects. The effect was related to carotenoid consumption.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform KCT0000259.
authors.forename: Na Hee
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Yeni
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Ji Eeun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Joohee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, Republic of Korea. wizard95@cha.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Oran
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002708:Chlorella; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D010919:Placebos; D002338:Carotenoids