What this work is about, in plain words
How feed with oil extracts of five microalgae species changes the blood, liver and kidney biochemistry of mice. According to the authors, different algae acted differently.
The lipid, that is, fat-soluble, part of microalgae contains fatty acids, carotenoids and other active substances. The authors compared how it affects metabolism in mice when added to feed.
Sunflower-oil extracts of five cultures (Chlorella vulgaris, Coelastrella sp., Arthrospira platensis, Cylindrotheca closterium, Porphyridium purpureum) were prepared and used to soak feed. Female C57BL/6 mice ate it for 12 days, 5 animals per group; the control received feed with plain oil. Proteins, cholesterol and its fractions, triglycerides, glucose, kidney function markers (creatinine, urea, uric acid), liver enzymes and sex hormones were then measured in blood serum, liver and kidneys.
According to the authors, total serum protein rose in all experimental groups, and glucose did not change. Other parameters changed in different directions depending on the alga species. For example, in the Porphyridium group liver enzymes and kidney-related markers increased, while spirulina and Cylindrotheca increased testosterone. The authors conclude that these differences should be taken into account when choosing microalgae for supplements.
Limitations. Small groups, 12 days, one dose. A study in mice; the conclusions do not carry over to humans. This is one and the same experiment, whose results the authors spread across five articles in 2021–2023 (weight and glucose, biochemistry, hematopoiesis and immunity, cytokines, a summarizing article); they are not independent confirmations. The results were obtained by the authors of the article and do not describe Laboratory 17 materials.