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

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).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Overweight; Sedentary
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Chlorella supplementation; Other: 12 week cardiovascular training programme; Dietary supplement: Placebo Supplementation

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • London, United Kingdom, W1T 7HA
    • University Colllege London (ISEH)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Chlorella Supplementation and Exercise; Supplementation with Chlorella (1.5 g/d) with a physical exercise program for 12 weeks	Dietary supplement: Chlorella supplementation; Supplementation with Chlorella (1.5 g/d) in 3 capsules for 12 weeks.; Other: 12 week cardiovascular training programme; Participants will be asked to complete a 12 week cycling training programme. This will consist of 4 X 50 min sessions per week. Each exercise session will include a warm-up phase (~ 5 min), a main physical conditioning phase (~ 40 min), and a cool-down phase (~ 5 min).
Experimental: Chlorella Supplementation; Supplementation with Chlorella (1.5 g/d) only for 12 weeks. No exercise programme	Dietary supplement: Chlorella supplementation; Supplementation with Chlorella (1.5 g/d) in 3 capsules for 12 weeks.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Supplementation and Exercise; Supplementation with Placebo - microcrystalline cellulose (1.5 g/d) with a physical exercise program for 12 weeks	Other: 12 week cardiovascular training programme; Participants will be asked to complete a 12 week cycling training programme. This will consist of 4 X 50 min sessions per week. Each exercise session will include a warm-up phase (~ 5 min), a main physical conditioning phase (~ 40 min), and a cool-down phase (~ 5 min).; Dietary supplement: Placebo Supplementation; Supplementation with Placebo - microcrystalline cellulose (1.5 g/d) in 3 capsules for 12 weeks.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Supplementation; Supplementation with Placebo - microcrystalline cellulose (1.5 g/d) only for 12 weeks. No exercise programme	Dietary supplement: Placebo Supplementation; Supplementation with Placebo - microcrystalline cellulose (1.5 g/d) in 3 capsules for 12 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in cardiovascular fitness (VO2max)	Changes in cardiovascular fitness variables as measured by a Cardio Pulmonary Exercise Test.	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12
Changes in blood lipid profiling	Assessing changes in blood lipids (Triglycerides, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, High-density lipoprotein)	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in cognitive function (simple reaction time)	Assessing changes in simple reaction time (m/s & number of errors) using the Gorilla Experiment Builder on a laptop.	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12 (before and after exercise)
Changes in cognitive function (inhibition)	Assessing changes in inhibition (m/s & number of errors) using the Gorilla Experiment Builder on a laptop.	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12 (before and after exercise)
Changes in cognitive function (endogenous and exogenous attending)	Assessing changes in endogenous and exogenous attending (m/s & number of errors) using the Gorilla Experiment Builder on a laptop.	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12 (before and after exercise)
Changes in cognitive function (context memory)	Assessing changes in source and context memory (m/s & number of errors) using the Gorilla Experiment Builder on a laptop. spatial anticipation	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12 (before and after exercise)
Changes in cognitive function (spatial anticipation)	Assessing changes in spatial anticipation (m/s & number of errors) using the Gorilla Experiment Builder on a laptop.	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12 (before and after exercise)
Changes in body composition variables	Assessing changes in body composition variables using the Tanita. Weight (kg) and height (cm) will be combined to report BMI in kg/m^2.	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12
Changes in body composition variables (fat & lean mass percentage)	Assessing changes in body fat mass (Body Fat mass %) and lean mass in percentage (Lean mass %) using the Tanita.	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12
Changes in body composition variables (fat free and muscle mass)	Assessing changes in fat free mass (kg) and muscle mass (kg) using the Tanita.	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12
Changes in blood pressure	Assessing changes in blood pressure (mmHg). Systolic and diastolic, using the ABP-Monitor Mobil-O-Graph NG	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12
Changes in pulse wave velocity	Assessing changes in pulse wave velocity (PWV) using the ABP-Monitor Mobil-O-Graph NG.	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12
Changes in total vascular resistance	Assessing changes in total vascular resistance (TVR) using the ABP-Monitor Mobil-O-Graph NG.	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12
Changes in augmentation index	Assessing changes in augmentation index (Alx) using the ABP-Monitor Mobil-O-Graph NG.	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12
Changes in augmentation pressure	Assessing changes in augmentation pressure using the ABP-Monitor Mobil-O-Graph NG.	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12
Changes in lactate	Assessing changes in lactate at rest, peak, +5mins post, +10mins post, +30mins post	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12
Changes in biomarkers for brain health	Assessing changes in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (before exercise at rest and 30-mins post peak exercise)	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12
Changes in Nitrate/Nitrite	Assessing changes in plasma Nitrate and Nitrite concentrations	At baseline, week 6 and at week 12

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University College, London
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Tom Gurney, University College, London

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 11, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): September 23, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 24, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 28, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): December 6, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 31, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 30, 2024
• Last Verified: January 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Body Weight; Overweight
• Other Study ID Numbers: 21745/002

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No