Document Detail


Six-week supplementation with Chlorella has favorable impact on antioxidant status in Korean male smokers.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19660910     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: Chlorella vulgaris is a popular food supplement in Asia and is currently marketed as a nutritional supplement. However, available scientific studies do not support its effectiveness for preventing or treating any disease in humans. Because Chlorella contains numerous nutrients, including antioxidants, it is thought to exert antioxidative functions by scavenging free radicals created by various environmental factors such as smoking. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether 6 wk of Chlorella supplementation to smokers is protective against oxidative damage in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. METHODS: Fifty-two smokers, aged 20-65 y, were given 6.3g of Chlorella or placebo every day for 6 wk. Blood samples were drawn at the beginning and after the supplementation. Plasma antioxidant vitamin levels and lipid peroxidation levels were measured. As a marker of oxidative stress, lymphocyte DNA damage was measured. RESULTS: Chlorella supplementation increased plasma vitamin C (44.4%), alpha-tocopherol (15.7%), and erythrocyte catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. Although 6 wk of Chlorella supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in lymphocyte DNA damage, as measured by comet assay, placebo supplementation also decreased the measured amount of lymphocyte DNA damage. CONCLUSION: Chlorella supplementation resulted in the conservation of plasma antioxidant nutrient status and improvement in erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activities in subjects. Therefore, our results are supportive of an antioxidant role for Chlorella and indicate that Chlorella is an important whole-food supplement that should be included as a key component of a healthy diet.
Authors:
Sun Hee Lee; Hae Jin Kang; Hye-Jin Lee; Myung-Hee Kang; Yoo Kyoung Park
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2009-08-05
Journal Detail:
Title:  Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)     Volume:  26     ISSN:  1873-1244     ISO Abbreviation:  Nutrition     Publication Date:  2010 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-02-03     Completed Date:  2010-05-27     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8802712     Medline TA:  Nutrition     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  175-83     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Nutrition, Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Antioxidants / metabolism*,  pharmacology*
Ascorbic Acid / blood
Catalase / blood
Chlorella*
DNA Damage / drug effects
Dietary Supplements
Double-Blind Method
Erythrocytes / drug effects
Humans
Korea
Lymphocytes / drug effects
Male
Middle Aged
Oxidative Stress / drug effects
Placebo Effect
Plant Preparations / pharmacology*
Smoking / metabolism*
Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
alpha-Tocopherol / metabolism
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Antioxidants; 0/Plant Preparations; 50-81-7/Ascorbic Acid; 59-02-9/alpha-Tocopherol; EC 1.11.1.6/Catalase; EC 1.15.1.1/Superoxide Dismutase

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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