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Chlorella

Chlorella

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  • Chlorella spp. (species) are single-celled green algae that reproduce quickly using only carbon dioxide, water, sunlight, and a few minerals. In the 1940s, chlorella was believed to be a "superfood" that could supply calories, fat, vitamins, and the 10 then-known essential amino acids to feed a booming population. Scientists have explored using Chlorella spp. in bioregenerative life-support systems for spacecraft and other closed biological systems, such as Biosphere 2.
  • Current interest in chlorella includes using it for boosting the immune system and for detoxification. Because it is able to resist the damaging effects of toxic metals, chlorella may possibly be used to detoxify water, e.g., to remove arsenic from water.
  • Two clinical trials studying chlorella's effects on patients with fibromyalgia have shown positive results, although higher-quality studies are needed for all areas of chlorella research.
  • Chu CY, Huang R, Ling LP. Purification and characterization of a novel haemagglutinin from Chlorella pyrenoidosa. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2006;33(11):967-973.
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  • Csonto J, Kadukova J, Polak M. Artificial life simulation of living alga cells and its sorption mechanisms. J Med Syst 2001;25(3):221-231.
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  • Halperin SA, Smith B, Nolan C, et al. Safety and immunoenhancing effect of a Chlorella-derived dietary supplement in healthy adults undergoing influenza vaccination: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. CMAJ 2003;169(2):111-117.
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  • Honek L, Uzel R, Fialova L, et al. [The use of a fresh-water weed Chlorella vulgaris for the treatment of the cervix after kryo-surgical interventions (author's transl)]. Cesk Gynekol 1978;43(4):271-273.
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  • Ivanova IE, Derendiaeva TA, Alekhina TP, et al. [The role of higher plants in the human biological life support system]. Kosm Biol Aviakosm Med 1990;24(4):40-43.
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  • Kralovec JA, Metera KL, Kumar J.R, et al. Immunostimulatory principles from Chlorella pyrenoidosa--part 1: isolation and biological assessment in vitro. Phytomedicine 2007;14(1):57-64.
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  • Merchant RE, Andre CA. A review of recent clinical trials of the nutritional supplement Chlorella pyrenoidosa in the treatment of fibromyalgia, hypertension, and ulcerative colitis. Altern Ther Health Med 2001;7(3):79-91.
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  • Merchant RE, Andre CA, Sica DA. Nutritional supplementation with Chlorella pyrenoidosa for mild to moderate hypertension. J Med Food 2002;5(3):141-152.
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  • Ohkawa S, Yoneda Y, Ohsumi Y, et al. [Warfarin therapy and chlorella]. Rinsho Shinkeigaku 1995;35(7):806-807.
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  • Ohtake T, Negishi K, Okamoto K, et al. Manganese-induced Parkinsonism in a patient undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Am J Kidney Dis 2005;46(4):749-753.
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  • Rauma AL, Torronen R, Hanninen O, et al. Vitamin B-12 status of long-term adherents of a strict uncooked vegan diet ("living food diet") is compromised. J Nutr 1995;125(10):2511-2515.
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  • Salisbury FB. Joseph I. Gitelson and the Bios-3 project. Life Support Biosph Sci 1994;1(2):69-70.
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  • Schnitzler S, Rathsack R. [Reaction of anti-A-hemagglutinin from Helix pomatia with algae (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) and demonstration of heterophilic agglutinins against algae in human sera]. Acta Biol Med Ger 1974;33(1):121-127.
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  • Tiberg E, Dreborg S, Bjorksten B. Allergy to green algae (Chlorella) among children. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1995;96(2):257-259.
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  • Tiberg E, Einarsson R. Variability of allergenicity in eight strains of the green algal genus Chlorella. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 1989;90(3):301-306.
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