Modulating activity of the alga Chlorella in glucose intolerant and type-2 diabetic patients

• Grant number: 16/08726-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2016
• End date: September 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Mary Luci de Souza Queiroz
• Grantee: Tamara Cristina Lopes de Castro
• Host Institution: Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia (HEMOCENTRO). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The alga Chlorella is considered to be a biological response modifier, as demonstrated by its modulating activity of different types of stresses in humans and experimental animals. Recent studies from our laboratory, pioneer in the literature, demonstrated that the capacity of Chlorella to prevent insulin resistance in obese animals is in part due to improvements in the insulin signaling pathway in the liver, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, by increasing the phosphorylation levels of proteins, such as IR, IRS-1 and Akt and reducing phosphorylation of IRS-1ser307. In addition, treatment with Chlorella restored to normal the increased levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, cholesterol fractions and the concentration of free fatty acids observed in obese animals. Insulin resistance is an important pathophysiological mechanism that indicates the progression to type 2 diabetes (T2D), as well as the additional complications observed in this disease. Although pharmacological treatment of T2D has some efficacy, it has serious side effects. In addition to the modulatory effects of algae on these pathophysiological parameters, improvement in quality of life is a constant in clinical studies performed with the alga. Therefore, the search for natural agents that minimize these undesirable effects, while maintaining effectiveness in regulating the observed disturbances, and enhancing the quality of life is receiving increased attention. In this context, the alga Chlorella arises as an alternative for the treatment of complications related to this disease. Therefore, we consider original and promising the purpose of this study to investigate the effects of the treatment with Chlorella in patients with glucose intolerance and with T2D.