Chlorophyll (Chlorophyllin)
Summary
Chlorophyllin has one notable trial: in 180 adults in China with unavoidable aflatoxin exposure, 100 mg three times daily cut a urinary marker of aflatoxin DNA damage by 55% (grade C). Small trials found no clear effect on urinary or colostomy odor (grade D). Claims for detox, energy or weight loss in typical US users have no trial support.
Key facts
- Natural chlorophyll is the green plant pigment; supplements and liquid drops usually contain sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC)[1]
- Aflatoxin DNA-damage marker: 55% lower in a high-exposure population (C); urinary and colostomy odor: no better than placebo (D)[2][3][4]
- None set; chlorophyll is not an essential nutrient[1]
- None documented; oral chlorophyllin can cause false-positive guaiac stool tests for blood[1]
- Green urine or stool, yellow or black tongue discoloration, occasional diarrhea[1]
- 6 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 10, 2026
How it works
ProposedChlorophyll and chlorophyllin form tight complexes with some carcinogens, including aflatoxin B1, which can limit how much is absorbed from the gut; in 3 volunteers a 150 mg dose of either reduced absorption of a tiny tracer dose of aflatoxin. Copper chlorins from chlorophyllin tablets are absorbed into the blood, so effects beyond the gut are possible but unproven.[1][6][7]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aflatoxin exposure | Grade C | Improved | RCT · n = 180 · 2001 | 2 rows |
| Odor control | Grade D | No effect | Crossover RCT · n = 28 · 1989 | 3 rows |
| Skin | Grade D | Improved | Open-label · n = 4 · 2016 | 1 row |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urinary aflatoxin-DNA adducts (biomarker of liver cancer risk) | Improved | Grade C | RCT · n = 180 · 2001 Healthy adults in Qidong, China, with unavoidable dietary aflatoxin exposure Form: sodium copper chlorophyllin tablets · Dose: 100 mg three times daily with meals · Duration: 4 months Median urinary aflatoxin-N7-guanine was 55% lower than placebo at 3 months (p=0.036); adherence was high and no adverse events were reported. | 11724948 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
| Fecal odor in colostomy patients | No effect | Grade D | Crossover RCT · n = 28 · 1989 Colostomy patients (Denmark) Form: chlorophyll tablets · Dose: 75 mg three times daily · Duration: Not stated in the abstract Patients' ratings of unpleasant odor did not differ from placebo. | 2675439 (opens PubMed)Source [4] |
| Urinary odor in incontinent older adults with catheters | No effect | Grade D | Crossover RCT · n = 20 · 1983 Incontinent geriatric patients with indwelling Foley catheters (US) Form: chlorophyllin · Dose: 100 mg/day · Duration: 2 weeks per phase Odor intensity fell about 21% on chlorophyllin and rose 9% on placebo, but the difference was not significant; the authors judged it may not be effective. | 6628224 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
| Urinary trimethylamine in trimethylaminuria ("fish odor syndrome") | Improved | Grade D | Open-label trial · n = 7 · 2004 Japanese adults with reduced ability to convert trimethylamine Form: copper chlorophyllin · Dose: 180 mg/day · Duration: 3 weeks Free urinary trimethylamine fell and its odorless metabolite rose to normal levels, with effects lasting several weeks after stopping. | 15043988 (opens PubMed)Source [5] |
| Skin-repair biomarkers in photoaged skin (topical gel) | Improved | Grade D | Open-label trial · n = 4 · 2016 Healthy women with photoaged forearm skin (US) Form: 0.05% liposomal sodium copper chlorophyllin gel (topical) · Dose: Applied to a test site · Duration: 12 days Fibrillin and epidermal mucin staining were higher than at untreated sites, similar to 0.025% tretinoin; procollagen changes were not significant. No adverse events. | 27524916 (opens PubMed)Source [9] |
| Aflatoxin absorption from a tracer dose | Improved | Grade D | PK study · n = 3 · 2009 Healthy volunteers (US) given a microdose of radiolabelled aflatoxin B1 Form: purified chlorophyll or chlorophyllin capsules · Dose: 150 mg with the aflatoxin dose · Duration: Single doses, repeated three times per volunteer Both chlorophyll and chlorophyllin impeded aflatoxin absorption and lowered blood and urine exposure in one or more subjects. | 19952359 (opens PubMed)Source [6] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium copper chlorophyllin (tablets, capsules, liquid drops) | Varies[1][7] | Water-soluble; copper chlorin e4 compounds from 300 mg/day tablets were found in the blood of trial participants, turning serum green.[1][7] | No toxic effects attributed in over 50 years of use; can discolor urine, stool or tongue.[1] | Aflatoxin trial (300 mg/day), odor trials (100–225 mg/day) |
| Natural chlorophyll (leafy greens, chlorella) | Varies[1] | Fat-soluble and extensively metabolized; animal studies suggest only 1–3% is absorbed.[1] | Not known to be toxic.[1] | Aflatoxin tracer study (150 mg purified chlorophyll) |
| Topical chlorophyllin gels | Varies[1][9] | Applied to skin; not systemically studied.[9] | Mild burning or itching reported when applied to wounds.[1] | Photoaging biomarker pilot (0.05% gel) |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 100 to 300 mg/day of chlorophyllin, taken in divided doses for 2 to 16 weeks; the aflatoxin trial used 100 mg three times daily with meals.[1][2][3]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
None found in our sources.
Who should be careful
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Safety has not been tested in pregnancy or lactation, so the Linus Pauling Institute advises avoiding supplements then.[1]
- Stool blood tests
- Oral chlorophyllin can cause false-positive guaiac card tests for blood in the stool; tell your clinician if you take it.[1]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Safety
Chlorophyllin has a long, uneventful safety record at 100–300 mg/day.
Food sources
| Food | Serving | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Spinach, raw | 1 cup | 23.7 mg[1] |
| Parsley, raw | 1/2 cup | 19 mg[1] |
| Garden cress, raw | 1 cup | 15.6 mg[1] |
| Green beans, raw | 1 cup | 8.3 mg[1] |
| Arugula, raw | 1 cup | 8.2 mg[1] |
- Spinach, raw23.7 mg
- Parsley, raw19 mg
- Garden cress, raw15.6 mg
- Green beans, raw8.3 mg
- Arugula, raw8.2 mg
How to read the label
- Label dose vs clinical doseThe aflatoxin trial used 300 mg/day (100 mg at each meal); many liquid drops list far less per serving, so check the chlorophyllin milligrams.[1][2]
- Chlorophyll vs chlorophyllinNatural chlorophyll is unstable and expensive, so most supplements labelled "chlorophyll" contain sodium copper chlorophyllin instead.[1]
- Copper contentChlorophyllin carries copper bound in its ring; whether this adds meaningfully to copper intake is not known.[1]
Cost per studied dose, without the sales pitch
Compare any product you already have by the amount it delivers, not by capsule count or front-of-pack weight.
Cost per studied dose
Enter the price, servings and the amount per serving from your label.
Frequently asked questions
What does chlorophyll do in the body?
Chlorophyllin can bind some toxins, such as aflatoxin, in the gut and limit their absorption. In a high-exposure population it lowered a urinary marker of aflatoxin DNA damage by 55%.[1][2]
Does liquid chlorophyll help with body odor?
The evidence is weak. Two small placebo-controlled trials found no significant effect on urinary or colostomy odor, though an uncontrolled study in a rare fish-odor disorder looked positive.[3][4][5]
Is liquid chlorophyll the same as chlorophyll?
Usually not. Most products contain sodium copper chlorophyllin, a water-soluble derivative, because natural chlorophyll is unstable and expensive.[1]
How much chlorophyllin was used in studies?
100–300 mg/day in divided doses; the aflatoxin trial used 100 mg three times daily with meals for 4 months.[1][2]
Is chlorophyll safe?
No toxic effects have been attributed to chlorophyllin in over 50 years of use. It can turn urine, stool or tongue green or dark and may cause diarrhea; avoid it in pregnancy and breastfeeding.[1]
Sources
- [1]Chlorophyll and Metallo-Chlorophyll Derivatives (updated September 2021, reviewed March 2022). Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Oregon State University, 2021. review
- [2]Chlorophyllin intervention reduces aflatoxin-DNA adducts in individuals at high risk for liver cancer.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2001. RCT
- [3]Effect of chlorophyllin on urinary odor in incontinent geriatric patients.. Drug Intell Clin Pharm, 1983. crossover-RCT
- [4][Can chlorophyll reduce fecal odor in colostomy patients?].. Ugeskr Laeger, 1989. crossover-RCT
- [5]Effects of the dietary supplements, activated charcoal and copper chlorophyllin, on urinary excretion of trimethylamine in Japanese trimethylaminuria patients.. Life Sci, 2004. open-label
- [6]Effects of chlorophyll and chlorophyllin on low-dose aflatoxin B(1) pharmacokinetics in human volunteers.. Cancer Prev Res (Phila), 2009. PK-study
- [7]Identification and characterization of chlorin e(4) ethyl ester in sera of individuals participating in the chlorophyllin chemoprevention trial.. Chem Res Toxicol, 2000. PK-study
- [8]First-in-human clinical trial of high-dose sodium copper chlorophyllin: Pharmacology and efficacy as a dual immunomodulatory/antiviral agent.. Phytomedicine, 2026. PK-study
- [9]Ability of sodium copper chlorophyllin complex to repair photoaged skin by stimulation of biomarkers in human extracellular matrix.. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol, 2016. open-label
What changed
- First draft. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title and year taken from the record) and abstracts read for the cited rows.
- Adversarial review pass: every evidence row re-read against its PubMed abstract; the colostomy trial abstract says "chlorophyll tablets", kept as written. Industry ties: the phase I high-dose trial authors declare a related patent. Retraction and expression-of-concern check run on all 8 PMIDs via PubMed records: none flagged. Page set indexable.