Nutritional Supplementation with Chlorella pyrenoidosa for Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study

Abstract

Objective: To determine if daily dietary supplementation with Chlorella for three months helps normalize body functions, relieve symptoms, and improve quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS].

Methods: A total of 43 subjects with FMS were enrolled and randomized such that approximately half consumed 50 Sun Chlorella™ tablets and 100 mL of liquid Chlorella extract known as Wakasa Gold™ each day for three months and the other half consumed 50 placebo tablets and 100 mL of placebo liquid each day for a comparable period. Neither the patient nor the physician conducting the assessments knew which of the dietary supplements the subject was consuming. Following a one month washout period, subjects crossed-over from Chlorella to placebo or vice versa.

Results: Thirty-four subjects completed the entire trial. Six parameters of response were followed while each subject consumed each study diet; subjects answered questions relating to sleep, pain, global well-being, and fatigue while the physician assessed tender point index and global well-being. Subjects were considered as having a positive response to a diet if they demonstrated a 50 percent or more improvement in at least four parameters. Of the 37 FMS subjects who completed the Chlorella arm, seven [19 percent] were responders versus only 3/34 [9 percent] who completed the placebo arm [P = 0.311]. For the four self-assessment parameters, significantly more [21/37 or 57 percent] subjects who completed the Chlorella arm noted a 50 percent or better improvement in at least two parameters while only 10/34 [29 percent] who completed the placebo arm did [P = 0.031]. Patient self-assessment of functional abilities by the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire [FIQ] showed that when they were consuming Chlorella, there was a steady, statistically significant, drop in the FIQ score while, when taking placebo, levels of improvement varied and were not statistically significant at the end of the three-month period. Comparisons of the FIQ for Chlorella and placebo indicated that the better response of participants in the Chlorella arm of the crossover was nearly statistically significant [P = 0.058]. A questionnaire dealing with issues of pain, anxiety, sleep, and gastrointestinal difficulties indicated that while participants were consuming Chlorella, there were steady, statistically significant improvements [P < 0.001] in scores compared to baseline. Comparing the two arms, there was a statistically significant [P = 0.004] improvement in FMS symptoms while the subjects were taking Chlorella.

Conclusion: Taken together, the results of this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study lead us to conclude that dietary Chlorella supplementation may be useful in relieving symptoms of FMS.

KEYWORDS:

• Fibromyalgia syndrome
• Chlorella
• dietary supplement
• pain