Chlorella and spirulina contain similar amounts of fat, but the type of fat differs greatly. Both algae are particularly rich in polyunsaturated fats, especially omega-3 fatty acids (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source, 7).
Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential polyunsaturated fats that are important for proper
cell growth and
brain function (8Trusted Source).
They are considered essential because your body is unable to produce them. Therefore, you must obtain them from your diet (8Trusted Source).
Intake of polyunsaturated fats has been associated with a lower risk of heart disease, particularly when substituted for saturated fats (9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source).
Omega-3 fatty acids, in particular, are associated with numerous
health benefits, including reduced inflammation, improved bone health, and a lower risk of
heart disease and certain cancers (13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).
However, you would need to consume very large amounts of these algae to meet your daily omega-3 needs. People typically only consume small portions of them (16Trusted Source).
While both forms of algae contain various types of polyunsaturated fats, a study that analyzed the fatty acid contents of these algae found that
chlorella contains more omega-3 fatty acids, while spirulina is higher in omega-6 fatty acids (5Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source).
Though
chlorella offers some omega-3 fats, concentrated algal oil supplements are a better option for those seeking alternatives to animal-based omega-3 supplements.
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