In order to clarify the physiological effects of Chlorella intake on subjects with high-risk factors for lifestyle-related diseases, we conducted Chlorella ingestion tests on 17 subjects with high-risk factors for lifestyle-related diseases and 17 healthy subjects over a 16-week period, including a 4-week post-observation period. We conducted blood biochemical tests and analyzed gene expression profile in whole blood cells in the peripheral blood before and after Chlorella intake. We confirmed that in both groups, Chlorella intake resulted in noticeable reductions in body fat percentage, serum total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose levels. Through gene expression analysis, we found that gene expression profiles varied with Chlorella intake and identified many genes that exhibited behavior such that after the completion of the intake period, expression levels returned to pre-intake expression ones. Among these were genes related to signal transduction molecules, metabolic enzymes, receptors, transporters, and cytokines. A difference in expression level was found between the two groups at the start of the tests, and we were able to identify genes with noticeable variance in expression level resulting from Chlorella intake in the high-risk factor group. These included genes involved in fat metabolism and insulin signaling pathways, which suggests that these pathways could be physiologically affected by Chlorella intake. There were clear variations in the expression profiles of genes directly related to uptake of glucose resulting from Chlorella intake, indicating that the activation of insulin signaling pathways could be the reason for the hypoglycemic effects of Chlorella.

Background/Objectives: Cognicise (multicomponent exercise) and Chlorella (microbial food) improve cognitive function independently. However, their combined effect and underlying mechanisms, including antioxidant capacity and metabolite fluctuations, remains unelucidated. We investigated the effect of multicomponent exercise combined with Chlorella intake on cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults and assessed changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS), free radical scavenging activity, and blood metabolites. Methods: In this double-blind comparative study conducted over 6 months, 16 older adults randomly received either Chlorella (Ex+C group) or a placebo (Ex+P group) alongside performing multicomponent exercise. Cognitive function (memory, attention, executive, and information processing) was assessed using the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool. The scavenging activity against various ROS and free radicals was measured, and a comprehensive metabolomic analysis was performed. Results: A significant interaction was observed for information processing function, improving significantly in both groups post-intervention. The Ex+P group showed a significant executive function decline; no such change was observed in the Ex+C group. The Ex+C group exhibited significantly improved OH· scavenging activity post-intervention. Free radical scavenging activity increased in both groups. Metabolomic analysis revealed significant changes in 29 and 25 metabolites in the Ex+C and Ex+P groups, respectively, between before and after the intervention. Conclusions: Combining multicomponent exercise and Chlorella intake may increase metabolites, thereby improving the scavenging activity of ROS and free radicals. This approach can improve information processing ability while preventing the significant executive function decline of exercise alone.