The Efficacy of Chlorella Supplementation on Health and Performance Following a 12-week Training Programme

University College London (UCL)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Sedentary; Overweight

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Placebo Supplementation; Dietary Supplement: Chlorella supplementation; Other: 12 week cardiovascular training programme

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05639634

21745/002

Details and patient eligibility

About

Algae are an emerging functional food source that are gaining traction and popularity in biopharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and biotechnology industries. They are a diverse and complex species that comprise an abundant breadth of micronutrients (multiple vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids) that can possibly promote human health. One such popular algae is chlorella, a unicellular dark green organism, which can be readily bought in health stores worldwide. Although there is some promising data to suggest chlorella supplementation can alleviate cardiovascular risk factors and improve VO2max from supplementation alone, an area which has particularly limited existing literature is the possible ergogenic and health influence of chlorella supplementation combined with a controlled training programme in sedentary and overweight populations. Given that such populations are susceptible to increased risk of developing associated diseases (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension) and possess poor diets, there is a need to investigate the possible synergistic effect of a training programme and supplementation of algae further. Furthermore, there is growing evidence to suggest that supplementation with algae may have a beneficial effect on cognitive function, primarily owed to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Therefore, the purpose of this study aims to assess the efficacy of chlorella supplementation on VO2max, blood lipid profiles, cognitive function and body composition following a 12-week training programme. Briefly, in a double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, participants will be randomly allocated into 1 of 4 groups (A. Exercise + Chlorella, B. Exercise + Placebo, C. Control + Chlorella, D. Control + Placebo).

Enrollment: 36 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 18-50
• Classified a sedentary (<30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise for <3 days per week for 3 months) and/or overweight (BMI = 25 +)
• Be willing to complete a 12-week training programme

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals taking blood thinners.
• Known allergies to algae/mould and iodine.
• Taking immunosuppressant medication
• Regularly ingesting algae
• Smokers

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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36 participants in 4 patient groups, including a placebo group

Chlorella Supplementation and Exercise

Experimental group

Description:

Supplementation with Chlorella (1.5 g/d) with a physical exercise program for 12 weeks

Treatment:

Other: 12 week cardiovascular training programme

Dietary Supplement: Chlorella supplementation

Chlorella Supplementation

Experimental group

Description:

Supplementation with Chlorella (1.5 g/d) only for 12 weeks. No exercise programme

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Chlorella supplementation

Placebo Supplementation and Exercise

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Supplementation with Placebo - microcrystalline cellulose (1.5 g/d) with a physical exercise program for 12 weeks

Treatment:

Other: 12 week cardiovascular training programme

Dietary Supplement: Placebo Supplementation

Placebo Supplementation

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Supplementation with Placebo - microcrystalline cellulose (1.5 g/d) only for 12 weeks. No exercise programme

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Placebo Supplementation