Chlorophyll: benefits, dosage, contraindications
Other name(s)
Chlorophyllin
Scientific name(s)
Chlorophyll
Family or group:
Phytochemicals
Indications
Scoring methodology
EFSA approval.
Unpleasant odors ✪✪✪✪✪
Chlorophyll and chlorophyllin are used to combat odors: fighting bad breath and body odors. However, clinical research shows that taking chlorophyll does not reduce colostomy odor (a stoma that connects the colon to the abdominal wall) compared with placebo.
Posologie
Oral
100 mg
Herpes ✪✪✪✪✪
In patients infected with the herpes simplex virus, clinical evidence shows that the topical application of chlorophyll to herpetic lesions, in the form of a cream or saline solution, 3 to 6 times a day, appears effective in promoting lesion regression. Indeed, chlorophyll stops viral replication and the development of lesions associated with herpes simplex viruses.
Posologie
Topical
cream
Leukopenia ✪✪✪✪✪
Preliminary evidence suggests that chlorophyll supplementation leads to an increase in white blood cell count and a reduction in dizziness and fatigue in patients with leukopenia. Sodium-copper chlorophyllin has a hematologic effect, similar to Leucogen, and allows an increase in white blood cell count and improvement of symptoms in patients with leukopenia.
Posologie
Oral
120 mg
chlorophyllin
Acne ✪✪✪✪✪
Clinical research in young adults with acne shows that applying chlorophyll-containing leaves to one side of the face for 30 minutes twice a week, in combination with irradiation by a light-emitting diode (LED) (part of the family of optoelectronic components capable of emitting light when subjected to an electric current), improves acne severity and reduces the number of lesions more than LED irradiation alone after 2 weeks of treatment.
Posologie
Oral
2 - weeks
Detoxification ✪✪✪✪✪
In vitro evidence suggests that chlorophyll may be useful as a chemopreventive agent because of its ability to inhibit the tumorigenic effects of carcinogens and to enhance the detoxification of toxins involved in cancer promotion. In a clinical trial, chlorophyllin reduced aflatoxin levels in urine by 55% compared with placebo. Chlorophyll has a porphyrin ring, which has an affinity for the flat surface of certain molecules, which could allow it to trap HCAs or PAHs. In addition, chlorophyll may decrease the absorption of dietary carcinogens by forming tight complexes with the carcinogens and by inhibiting cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP). It has been established that heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are carcinogenic chemicals that form when amino acids, sugars, and creatine in muscle meats (beef, pork, fish, and poultry) react with each other during high-temperature cooking.
Posologie
Oral
100 mg
Cancer ✪✪✪✪✪
Chlorophyll has anticarcinogenic effects. Indeed, chlorophyll and its metabolite pheophorbide-a can help inhibit the proliferation of certain cells and induce apoptosis in some tumor cells (leukemic cells or breast cancer cells). In addition, chlorophyll and its derivative, chlorophyllin, can form complexes with carcinogens, reducing their bioavailability. This therefore helps lower the risk of developing certain cancers, such as liver cancer: chlorophyllin reduces levels of aflatoxin biomarkers found in urine.
Posologie
Oral administration
100 mg
Properties
Antioxidant
Chlorophyll contains antioxidants such as carotenoids and flavonoids that fight free radicals.
Antimicrobial
In human research, topical chlorophyll stopped viral replication of herpes and the development of lesions related to herpes simplex viruses. Some studies have demonstrated its effectiveness on infected wounds by slowing the growth of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus.
Usages associés
Hematologic effect
In human research, administration of chlorophyll increases the number of leukocytes (white blood cells) in peripheral blood. Sodium and copper chlorophyllin have a hematological effect, similar to Leucogen, and can increase the number of leukocytes and improve the symptoms of patients with leukopenia.
Usages associés
Anticancer
In vitro, chlorophyll derivatives appear to have a cytotoxic effect on certain cancer cells and seem to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. Indeed, chlorophyll and its metabolite pheophorbide-a can inhibit the proliferation of some cells and induce apoptosis in certain tumor cells (leukemic cells or breast cancer cells). Moreover, chlorophyll and its derivative, chlorophyllin, can form complexes with carcinogens, which decreases their bioavailability. This therefore reduces the risk of developing certain cancers, such as liver cancer: chlorophyllin reduces the levels of aflatoxin biomarkers found in urine. Chlorophyllin also inhibits the absorption of certain heterocyclic aromatic amines, which are potential carcinogens. In addition, chlorophyll and chlorophyllin reduce the risk of gastrointestinal cancer by modifying the genotoxic effects of certain toxins.
Usages associés
Safe dosage
Adults 18 years and older: 100 mg
Oral use of chlorophyll is safe in adults. The dose usually recommended by manufacturers is 100 mg per day.
Interactions
Médicaments
Photosensitizing drugs: moderate interaction
Medications that increase sensitivity to the sun (photosensitizing drugs) interact with chlorophyll, which also has the same effect. Thus, coadministration may increase the risk of sunburns and skin rashes.
Precautions
Pregnant women: avoid
Avoid using chlorophyll during pregnancy due to lack of information.
Breastfeeding women: avoid
Avoid using chlorophyll while breastfeeding due to lack of information.
