Sunday June 15, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- High serum cholesterol concentrations are considered a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.  A new trial suggests that daily supplementation with Chlorella can lower triglycerides and total cholesterol in mildly hypercholesterolemic men and women.

The study shows that subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia receiving Chlorella supplements in a dose of 5 grams per day for four weeks reduced total cholesterol by 1.6% and triglycerides by 10.3%, compared with controls.

In the double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 63 subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia were randomized to receive either Chlorella in a dose of 5 grams daily or placebo daily for four weeks in addition to a 2-week lead-in period.  Biochemical tests were conducted at baseline and the end of the trial.

Chlorella supplementation also increased lutein/zeaxanthin by 89.6% and alpha-carotene by 163.6%/  Chlorella also reduced very low density lipoprotein cholesterol by 11% and non-high density lipoprotein by 2.6 % and increased the ratio of high density lipoprotein cholesterol to triglycerides by 4.0%.

The study concluded "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."

Chlorella supplements can be purchased over the Internet and local health stores. *David Liu, PHD)

Ryu NH, Lim Y, Park JE, Kim J, Kim JY, Kwon SW, Kwon O.  Impact of daily Chlorella consumption on serum lipid and carotenoid profiles in mildly hypercholesterolemic adults: a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study.  Nutr J. 2014 Jun 11;13(1):57.