The long-term effects of Chlorella doses on the inflammatory status and quality of life (QoL) of individuals with type-2 diabetes (T2D), and prediabetes (pre-T2D), and of nondiabetic controls were investigated. Chlorella was administered for 12 months; 1.6 g/day for the first six months and 3 g/day for the following six months. The inflammatory profile was studied by quantification of cytokines, adipokines and incretins. QoL was evaluated using the Short Form-36 health survey questionnaire (SF-36). Evaluations were performed at baseline, 6 (T6) and 12 (T12) months after initiating Chlorella intake. At baseline, QoL was more deeply impacted in T2D, a similar proinflammatory profile was observed in T2D and pre-T2D. In both, at T6 and T12, Chlorella modulated the altered levels of adipocytokines and incretins towards healthy values, and significantly improved QoL. Moderate correlations between the modulation by the alga and enhancement in QoL were observed only in the T2D group. In the nondiabetic control group, Chlorella improved QoL vitality and mental health scores. No differences were found between the two doses. Our results illustrate Chlorella adaptogen activity on inflammatory pathways and suggest its promising use as a complementary alternative in treating diseases related to insulin resistance in a wide range of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation-related diseases. Moreover, Chlorella increased QoL in all groups, the ultimate goal of all healthy interventions. Altogether, our findings suggest that one core mechanism involved in the homeostatic response produced by Chlorella is related to its rich content of carotenoids, operating mainly through inhibition of the NF-κB signalling pathway.

To investigate the effects of Chlorella alga on gut microbiota dysbiosis in type-2 diabetes (T2D). The stress perception of patients was also investigated. Chlorella (3 g/day) was administered to patients with T2D (n = 10) for a period of 30 days. Gut microbiota composition was analysed by 16S rDNA gene sequencing, and stress perception was evaluated using the perceived stress scale (PSS). A total of 13 phyla, 89 families, and 185 genera were identified from all faecal samples of patients with T2D, and Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the most dominant phyla among all samples. Chlorella decreased Bacteroidetes and increased Firmicutes. The proportions of the Akkermansia, Coprococcus, Dorea, Lachnospira, Phascolarctobacterium, and Ruminococcus generas increased, whereas the proportion of Paraprevotella, Prevotella, Klebsiella, and Sutterella decreased in the faeces of patients with T2D after Chlorella intake. Chlorella induced a significant reduction in perceived stress in patients with T2D, and better PSS scores negatively correlated with an increase in Akkermansia, Coprococcus, Dorea, Lachnospira, Phascolarctobacterium, and Ruminococcus and positively correlated with a decrease in Paraprevotella, Prevotella, Klebsiella, and Sutterella. Altogether, these results show the ability of Chlorella to positively modulate gut dysbiosis, leading to reduced stress perception in patients with T2D. Our findings contribute to the globally increasing search for new preventive and therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring the balance of the intestinal ecosystem.

O Grupo de trabalho de Combate à Dengue da Unicamp,desde a sua criação há 15 anos,vem desenvolvendo ações com objetivo de eliminar os criadouros do mosquito Aedes aegypti e diminuir no campus os casos de doenças a ele relacionados (inicialmente a Dengue,desde 2014,a Febre Chikungunya e a partir de 2015 o Zika vírus).Diversas ações foram realizadas nesse período como:“Arrastões”-vistorias realizadas por grupo treinado para localizar e eliminar focos do mosquito no campus,no entorno e na moradia estudantil.Palestras e participação em eventos voltados à comunidade,visando ampliar o conhecimento sobre a doença,o mosquito e a eliminação de focos.Capacitação de membros da Cipa para que vistoriarem permanentemente os prédios e áreas adjacentes.Criação de folders, envio de informes eletrônicos e emails com o objetivo de manter a comunidade informada sobre medidas de combate ao mosquito e orientações sobre a doença.Vigilância entomológica,através de pneus armadilhas espalhados pelo campus.Apesar de todos os esforços,verificamos o aumento da doença e do vetor,levando a discussões sobre novas formas de combate.Redirecionamos as ações focando na responsabilização individual e coletiva de todos da comunidade universitária.Foram reformulados os conteúdos e estratégias de sensibilização,como:palestras,capacitações,informes,reuniões com dirigentes das unidades e envolvimento da administração superior da Unicamp.Criou-se um novo canal de comunicação (dengue@unicamp.br),articulado com as áreas envolvidas,para que os problemas relacionados à detecção e eliminação de focos da dengue pudessem ser encaminhados e sanados,com a elaboração de um protocolo de pronta-resposta às possíveis demandas internas.