Chlorella

Single-ingredient chlorella reference formula with 3,000 mg per serving, developed as a powder, with tablet and capsule options.

Chlorella is a reference formula for brands building a single-ingredient algae product at a default amount of 3,000 mg of chlorella per serving. Chlorella is the only active, so the development work centers on the processing of the algal biomass, its green color and marine odor, and the heavy dose that has to be delivered as a powder, several tablets or several capsules.

Powder is the lead format because a 3,000 mg serving is a gram-level amount, with a tablet version at 1,000 mg per tablet and a capsule version at 500 mg per capsule for brands that sell a counted-unit product. The reference labels span amounts from 250 mg to 4,140 mg, so the amount is a brand decision set around the default.

Ingredient Composition

IngredientPer ServingRaw Material FormAlternative Form (same amount of active)
Chlorella3000 mg (default amount)Chlorella powder, for example the Chlorella Powder grade; specification 3,000 mg per serving, species, processing and moisture set with the supplierA tablet-grade or granulated chlorella with defined flow and compressibility

Amounts are stated as mg of chlorella powder as purchased, not of dry matter or of any marker. Moisture, protein and chlorophyll content differ by supplier and are part of the specification.

Intended Benefits & Formula Rationale

This formula is designed for products positioned around green algae nutrition. Chlorella is included as the single active so that the grade, the amount and the delivery format can be set without interaction with other actives.

Intended Benefit DirectionKey IngredientsFormulation Rationale
Metabolic wellness nutritionChlorellaA systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of 24 studies reported that chlorella supplementation was associated with significant reductions in body fat percentage, body mass index and LDL cholesterol, with the certainty of evidence rated low for BMI and very low for most other outcomes [1]. Evidence: Referenced

The studies behind [1] differ in chlorella product, dose and population, so amount, claims and target market are brand decisions reviewed for each sales market.

Available Formats

The chlorella reference formula is built for a powder version, a tablet version and a capsule version; counts per serving are design choices that the brand can adjust.

FormatUnitPer ServingPack SizeOther Ingredients (typical)Suitability
Powder1 sachet3000 mg30 sachets or 300 g pouchFlow agent, optional sweetener and flavorLead format; full serving in one sachet
Tablet3 tablets3000 mg (1000 mg per tablet)90 or 180 tabletsBinder, disintegrant, coatingCounted-unit format; compression of a fibrous powder
Capsule6 capsules3000 mg (500 mg per capsule)120 or 180 capsulesFlow agent, vegetable capsule shellCapsule count is high at this serving, so lower servings are common

Raw Material Input & Fill (Design Estimate)

Design estimates. The input is the labeled chlorella weight at an assumed 100% of the powder as purchased, so each unit uses the chlorella weight shown below; the real input follows the certificate of analysis.

FormatRaw Material Input per UnitDesign FillBalance for ExcipientsVerification Before Scale-Up
Powder3000 mg chlorella3050 mg per sachet50 mgFlow, moisture pickup, fill weight variation
Tablet1000 mg chlorella1100 mg per tablet100 mgHardness, disintegration, friability, moisture
Capsule500 mg chlorella550 mg per capsule50 mgPowder density, fill weight variation, flow

Gummy and liquid versions are separate projects, because a gram-level dark green biomass needs its own matrix, color and taste work in those systems.

Formulation Considerations

Gram-level dose. A 3,000 mg serving is a sachet, three large tablets or six capsules, and the capsule count is the main limit of the capsule format. Brands that need a counted-unit product usually set a lower serving.
Cell wall processing. Chlorella is a unicellular alga with a tough cell wall, and the raw material is offered in different processing grades. The specification names the processing grade, because it decides how the powder behaves in tablets and in a drink.
Color, odor and moisture. The powder is deep green, has a marine odor and takes up moisture. Tablets need a coating or a flavor system to cover the odor, and a sachet needs a moisture-barrier film.
Biomass specification. Algal biomass is grown in open or closed systems, so the specification covers microbial counts, heavy metals and pesticide residues, and the supplier is qualified before development. Review of the dose limit and label wording for each sales market precedes product development.

Customization Options

Brands adjust the chlorella amount, the processing grade, the format and the add-ons.

ParameterRangeNote
Chlorella per serving500, 1000, 2000 or 3000 mgExamples for the brand; unit count changes with the amount
Processing gradeStandard powder or tablet-gradeChanges flow, compressibility and odor
FormatPowder, tablet or capsuleGummy and liquid are separate projects
Pack size30 to 180 unitsSet by the brand
Add-onsSpirulina, barley grassAnother green powder raises the fill weight and shifts the flavor profile

The pilot run confirms flow and fill weight of the powder, tablet hardness and friability with the chosen binder, odor masking, and the moisture content of the first units against the specification.

Flavor Options

FormatSuggested FlavorsWhy
PowderMint, lemon-lime, pineappleFresh and tropical profiles cover the marine note of chlorella

Technical Status & Data Sources

ItemStatusDetails
Reference formulaNIH DSLDThe ingredient and amount come from a labeled product in the NIH DSLD (3000 mg on the label of CF009381; example DSLD labels 71867, 311326, 311327). The label names the ingredient as chlorella; a chlorella powder with the processing grade set in the specification is the form.
SpecificationSet in formulationChlorella powder, 3000 mg per serving; species, processing grade, moisture, microbial, heavy-metal and pesticide limits and method are fixed with the supplier. Unit size, fill weight and stability are set in formulation.
Data sourceNIH DSLDDSLD v9.4.0, downloaded 2026-01-10: 50,824 reference formulas merged from on-market labels with complete ingredient amounts. Counts show how labels are distributed.
Market reviewPer marketDose limits, labeling and claims are reviewed for each sales market before a finished product is developed.
ReferencesSources[1] Mardani H, Karimi MA, Sharifi M, Ghazvineh D, Yari Z, Jafari A. Beneficial effects of Chlorella species supplementation in the general population: a GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Nutr Diabetes. 2026;16(1):44. DOI · PubMed

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