Is Chlorella safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Chlorella. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Studies in Japan found that supplementation with Chlorella pyrenoidosa (Sun Chlorella A tablets, Sun Chlorella Corp., Kyoto, Japan) during pregnancy decreased the amount of dioxins and increased the concentration of immunoglobulin A in breastmilk.[ 1 , 2 ] Ten healthy women took 2 grams of dried Chlorella powder in a tablet formulation (Biorinck, Chlorella Industry Co. Ltd.) after each of 3 main meals of the day, beginning at 16 to 20 weeks of pregnancy and continuing until delivery. Tablets contained lutein 270 mg, beta-carotene 90 mg, zeaxanthin 30 mg, alpha-carotene 7 mg, vitamin K1 (phylloquinone, phytonadione) 3 mg, and chlorophylls 3.2 grams per 100 grams, in addition to numerous vitamins and minerals. Compared to 10 pregnant women who took no Chlorella, the breastmilk of the treated women contained significantly more beta-carotene (1.7-fold higher) and lutein (2.7-fold higher), zeaxanthin (2.6-fold higher) in the first 6 days postpartum. No differences were found in the breastmilk content of beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha-carotene, or lycopene between groups.[ 3 ] Three days before delivery, a mother replaced her normal iron supplement with blue-green algae complex (blue-green algae, Chlorella , and spirulina; Ambrosia-SupHerb Ltd., Israel) 750 mg once daily. On the second day after delivery she expressed 30 mL of dark green milk. No abnormal milk cytology was found and a microbiologic culture was negative. After stopping the supplement, her milk returned to a normal color over the next 3 days. The change in color was probably caused by the algae supplement.[ 4 ]
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date. Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Source: NIH LactMed (National Library of Medicine).
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.