PP109 - MICROALGAE CHLORELLA SOROKINIANA AS ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN SOURCE: EFFECT ON IMMUNE MARKERS AND POSTPRANDIAL AMINO ACID PROFILE

PP109

MICROALGAE CHLORELLA SOROKINIANA AS ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN SOURCE: EFFECT ON IMMUNE MARKERS AND POSTPRANDIAL AMINO ACID PROFILE

Z. Wang^1,*, M. Gigl², T. Skurk¹, V. Somoza^3,4

¹ZIEL Institute for Food and Health, Core Facility Human Studies, ²Chair of Chemosensory Food Systems, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany, ³Department of Physiological Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Veinna, Austria, ⁴Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany

Rationale: Due to the growing global population, the demand for sustainable protein sources has become increasingly relevant in nutrition science. Microalgae such as Chlorella sorokiniana represent a promising alternative protein source due to their high protein content and complete amino acid (AS) profile. In addition, Chlorella has potential health benefits, including immune-modulatory properties. This pilot study investigated the effects of a single bolus intake of C. sorokiniana on circulating immune markers and postprandial AS profiles in healthy adults.

Methods: We conducted a monocentric, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study with thirteen healthy participants (6m/7f, 18-40y). Breakfast bread rolls contained C. sorokiniana (12 g unlabeled Chlorella, 6 g ¹⁵N-labeled Chlorella), while bread rolls without Chlorella served as the control meal. Venous blood samples were collected at baseline and predefined postprandial time points. Immune markers were analyzed using multiplex immunoassays (MSD S-Plex proinflammatory panel 1).

Results: Linear mixed-effects modelling showed significant postprandial increases in IL-6, TNF, and IL-1β after multiple testing correction. However, no significant intervention or intervention x time interaction effects were observed, indicating that changes were primarily time-dependent rather than attributable to Chlorella intake. Multivariate PERMANOVA and exploratory principal component analysis confirmed that temporal effects drove immune marker variation. In contrast, AS profiles showed enrichment of ¹⁵N-labeled essential AS in plasma, indicating rapid systemic availability of algae-derived AS after Chlorella consumption.

Conclusion: The postprandial increase in circulating AS supports the feasibility of Chlorella as a novel sustainable protein source, while immune markers were primarily driven by postprandial time effects.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared