OK, but unfortunately the study stopped short of determining if this supplement protected older people from actually getting the flu.

Placebo or a chlorella-derived dietary supplement (200 mg/day or 400 mg/day) was given to 124 healthy adults, at least 50 years of age, for four weeks. After three weeks, everyone got the 2000/2001 flu season vaccine.

There were no differences between groups in achieving at least a four-fold increase in antibodies. However, those who were 50 to 55 years old and took the high-dose treatment had significantly higher antibody titers against two of the three influenza strains covered by the vaccine.

Chlorella are freshwater microscopic algae, widely used as a food supplement in Japan.

Too bad they didn’t follow these patients to determine any effect on the development of an influenza infection.

Maybe next year.

10/27/06 09:08 JR