Bioavailability of Lutein in Chlorella Powder: A Single Ingestion of Chlorella Powder Raises Serum Lutein Concentrations in Healthy Human Volunteers

Abstract

Chlorella powder (CP), a dietary supplement made from a green alga, contains abundant lutein (2.8 mg/g), but the bioavailability of lutein in CP has not been evaluated. In the present study, we assessed the effect of a single ingestion of CP (3 or 6 g) in tablet form on serum lutein concentrations in humans (n = 21). At 1 d, serum lutein concentrations increased from baseline values by 34% (25.6 nM/mg-lutein intake) after 3 g CP and by 66% (21.4 nM/mg-lutein intake) after 6 g CP. These results suggest that lutein in CP is highly bioavailable.