Chlorella
Other ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Single-celled green algae known for heavy metal chelation and nutrient density.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.
This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Chlorella is an other most often used for heavy metal detox, immune support, nutrient density. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate. A typical adult dose is 3-10 g daily, commonly taken as broken cell wall chlorella (for digestibility). This profile indexes 18 sources.
The bottom line
Evidence rating moderate. Most-documented uses: heavy metal detox, immune support, nutrient density. 18 sources indexed (2010–2026), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Broken cell wall chlorella binds heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium) and pesticides in the GI tract for excretion. Rich in chlorophyll, CGF (Chlorella Growth Factor), and nucleic acids.16,1
Dosing & protocol.
What it actually costs.
Real-world pricing across three quality tiers. Assumes Broken Cell Wall Chlorella.
Assumes 3-10 g/day. Vendor basis: NOW/iHerb, Vitacost, BulkSupplements powder, and Amazon marketplace; organic tablets cost more than bulk powder. Updated 2026-05-28.
The same dose, as food.
How much you'd eat to match a supplemental dose.
Chlorella is itself the food-like algae source; choose tested products because algae can concentrate contaminants.
Full safety detail.
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Meta-analyses & systematic reviews
8- 1The Role of Chlorella and Spirulina as Adjuvants of Cardiovascular Risk Factor Control: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled TrialsPMIDPinto-Leite M, Martins D, Ferreira AC et al. · Nutrients · 2025
Chlorella and spirulina supplementation improved multiple cardiovascular risk factors including blood pressure, lipid parameters, and glycemic markers in this comprehensive meta-analysis.
- 2Arthrospira platensis and Chlorella vulgaris Consumption on Iron Status: A Systematic Review of In Vivo StudiesPMIDLacurezeanu A, Vodnar DC · Molecular nutrition & food research · 2025
Lacurezeanu A, Vodnar DC. Arthrospira platensis and Chlorella vulgaris Consumption on Iron Status: A Systematic Review of In Vivo Studies. Molecular nutrition & food research. 2025
- 3Effect of supplementation with Chlorella vulgaris on lipid profile in adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsPMIDFallah AA et al. · Complement Ther Med · 2022
10 RCTs with 539 adults showed chlorella supplementation reduced total cholesterol by -7.47 mg/dL.
- 4The effect of Chlorella vulgaris on obesity related metabolic disorders: a systematic review of randomized controlled trialsPMIDSanayei M, Kalejahi P, Mahinkazemi M et al. · Journal of complementary & integrative medicine · 2022
Sanayei M, Kalejahi P, Mahinkazemi M et al.. The effect of Chlorella vulgaris on obesity related metabolic disorders: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine. 2022
- 5Effect of Chlorella vulgaris on Liver Function Biomarkers: a Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisPMIDYarmohammadi S, Hosseini-Ghatar R, Foshati S et al. · Clinical nutrition research · 2021
Yarmohammadi S, Hosseini-Ghatar R, Foshati S et al.. Effect of Chlorella vulgaris on Liver Function Biomarkers: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Clinical nutrition research. 2021
- 6Effect of Chlorella supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsPMIDFallah AA et al. · Clin Nutr · 2018
19 RCTs with 797 subjects showed chlorella significantly decreased total cholesterol, LDL-C, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose.
- 7Effect of Chlorella supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysisSource linkedPMIDFallah AA, Sarmast E, Jafari T · Clin Nutr · 2018
- 8Chlorella supplementation lowers blood pressure and serum lipids: a meta-analysisSource linkedPMIDFallah AA, Sarmast E, Habibian Dehkordi S et al. · Clin Nutr · 2018
Randomized controlled trials
5- 9Chlorella vulgaris in combination with high intensity interval training in overweight and obese women: a randomized double-blind clinical trialPMIDSanayei M, Izadi A, Hajizadeh-Sharafabad F et al. · Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders · 2021
Chlorella vulgaris supplementation combined with exercise significantly improved anthropometric and metabolic parameters including BMI, body fat percentage, and insulin resistance in overweight women.
- 10Beneficial effect of Chlorella pyrenoidosa drink on healthy subjects: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over clinical trialPMIDChiu HF, Lee HJ, Han YC et al. · Journal of food biochemistry · 2021
Chiu HF, Lee HJ, Han YC et al.. Beneficial effect of Chlorella pyrenoidosa drink on healthy subjects: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over clinical trial. Journal of food biochemistry. 2021
- 11A randomized controlled trial of 6-week Chlorella vulgaris supplementation in patients with major depressive disorderPMIDPanahi Y et al. · Complement Ther Med · 2015
Chlorella supplementation as adjunctive therapy improved physical and cognitive symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients on standard antidepressants.
- 12A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Chlorella supplementation on immunological and oxidative stress biomarkersSource linkedPMIDKwak JH, Baek SH, Woo Y et al. · Nutr J · 2012
- 13Six-week supplementation with Chlorella has favorable impact on antioxidant status in Korean male smokersPMIDLee SH et al. · Nutrition · 2010
Six-week chlorella supplementation improved antioxidant enzyme activities and reduced oxidative stress markers in Korean male smokers.
Reviews & position papers
2- 14Selenium and Chlorella vulgaris synergistically alleviate arsenic toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa L.)PMIDChauhan R, Awasthi S, Srivastava S et al. · Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology · 2026
Chauhan R, Awasthi S, Srivastava S et al.. Selenium and Chlorella vulgaris synergistically alleviate arsenic toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology. 2026
- 15Chlorella vulgaris: A Multifunctional Dietary Supplement with Diverse Medicinal PropertiesPMIDPanahi Y et al. · Curr Pharm Des · 2016
Chlorella supplementation can ameliorate hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia, and protect against oxidative stress, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Observational studies
1- 16The Long-Term Algae Extract (Chlorella and Fucus sp) and Aminosulphurate Supplementation Modulate SOD-1 Activity and Decrease Heavy Metals (Hg++, Sn) Levels in Patients with Long-Term Dental Titanium Implants and Amalgam Fillings RestorationsPMIDMerino JJ et al. · Antioxidants (Basel) · 2019
90 days of chlorella and fucus extract supplementation reduced heavy metal levels (Hg++, Sn) and modulated SOD-1 activity in dental implant patients.
Reference material
2- 17Barghchi H, Dehnavi Z, Nattagh-Eshtivani E et al.. The effects of Chlorella vulgaris on cardiovascular risk factors: A comprehensive review on putative molecular mechanisms. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. 2023Source linkedPMID
- 18Mendes AR, Spínola MP, Lordelo M et al.. Impact of Chlorella vulgaris Intake Levels on Performance Parameters and Blood Health Markers in Broiler Chickens. Veterinary sciences. 2024Source linkedPMID
Common questions.
Quick answers about Chlorella, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Chlorella?
Single-celled green algae known for heavy metal chelation and nutrient density.
What is Chlorella used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Chlorella include: Heavy metal detox; Immune support; Nutrient density; Cholesterol reduction. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as moderate.
What is a typical dose of Chlorella?
A typical adult dose of Chlorella is 3-10 g daily. The commonly recommended form is Broken cell wall chlorella (for digestibility). These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Chlorella?
Reported side effects include gi upset initially, green stools, photosensitivity. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Chlorella?
NutriStack rates this as Moderate, meaning several aligned RCTs or one large RCT plus supporting reviews. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Chlorella in NutriStack.
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