Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences

Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences

The Effect of Aerobic Exercise Combined with Chlorella (Green Algae) Supplementation on Serum Levels of Hematological Markers in Women

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Paria Afraz 1
Zohreh Amirkhani 2
Mahmoud Soltani 3
1 M.Sc. Student of Exercise Physiology; Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Physical Education, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran(Corresponding author)
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
10.22038/mjms.2026.28385
Abstract
Introduction: Obesity is associated with disturbances in various body systems, including alterations in blood parameters. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of aerobic exercise combined with *Chlorella* (green) algae supplementation on serum levels of hematological markers in obese women.
Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental trial employing a pretest-posttest design. Forty obese women (mean age: 26.17 ± 2.70 years; BMI: 32.35 ± 1.55 kg/m²) were purposively selected and randomly assigned to four groups (n=10 each): 1) aerobic exercise + *Chlorella* supplementation, 2) aerobic exercise + placebo, 3) *Chlorella* supplementation, and 4) placebo. The aerobic exercise program was conducted over eight weeks (three sessions per week, 45–60 minutes at moderate intensity). Groups receiving the supplement consumed 1,200 mg of *Chlorella* algae daily (in two doses). Blood samples were collected before and after the intervention to measure hematological indices. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: The results showed that eight weeks of aerobic exercise combined with Chlorella supplementation led to a significant increase in MCV, MCH, and MCHC levels in the combined group (exercise + supplement) compared to the placebo group (P=0.001). No significant changes in the aforementioned indices were observed in the exercise + placebo group or the supplement-only group (P>0.05).
Conclusion: It appears that performing aerobic exercise combined with Chlorella supplementation can be effective in improving the health of obese women by enhancing hematological indices such as MCV, MCH, and MCHC. The synergistic effect of exercise and supplementation seems to yield better results in improving blood indices compared to either intervention alone.
Keywords
aerobic exercise
Chlorella
hematological indices
women
Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences
Volume 69, Issue 6
June 2026
Pages 684-693