Supplement analysis backed by scientific evidence · PT · ES · DE · FR

← All supplements
Limited evidenceGeneral health

Chlorophyll

Liquid chlorophyll went viral for clear skin, deodorizing and weight loss — none of which has decent human trial support. The one well-documented effect is chemoprevention against aflatoxin, established in a rural Chinese population with heavy dietary exposure, which has nothing to do with why people buy it.

View on iHerb Ships to 180+ countries · welcome discount for new customers

What the science says

  • Chlorophyllin reduces aflatoxin-DNA damage Moderate evidence

    In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Qidong, China, 180 adults with high dietary aflatoxin exposure took 100 mg chlorophyllin three times daily for four months; urinary aflatoxin-N7-guanine adducts fell by about 55% versus placebo. Follow-up work confirmed chlorophyllin binds aflatoxin in the gut and blocks its absorption. This is real chemoprevention in a high-exposure population, not a general detox mechanism relevant to well-fed Western diets.

  • Internal deodorant effect is limited to a rare metabolic disorder Limited evidence

    In patients with trimethylaminuria (fish odor syndrome), copper chlorophyllin at 60 mg/day for three weeks significantly reduced urinary trimethylamine excretion. Outside this rare condition there is no controlled evidence that chlorophyll reduces body odor, breath odor or stool odor; the older nursing-home deodorizing literature is uncontrolled and decades old.

  • No credible evidence for acne or skin clearing Limited evidence

    The viral claim rests on a handful of tiny open-label pilot studies of topical chlorophyllin gel in acne and photoaging, typically 10-24 participants with no placebo arm. There are no randomized trials of oral chlorophyll drops for acne, and no plausible mechanism by which a poorly absorbed green pigment clears sebaceous inflammation.

  • Weight loss claims come from a different compound Limited evidence

    The weight-loss studies circulating online used spinach-derived thylakoid membranes at around 5 g/day, which delay fat digestion and increase satiety hormones — not chlorophyll drops, which supply milligram quantities of sodium copper chlorophyllin. Conflating the two is the single most common error in this category's marketing.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseChlorophyllin at 100 mg three times daily (300 mg/day) was used in the aflatoxin chemoprevention trials; 60 mg/day was used in trimethylaminuria. Consumer liquid drops usually supply 50-100 mg of sodium copper chlorophyllin per serving in water. Note that supplements contain chlorophyllin — a semi-synthetic, water-soluble, copper-substituted derivative — not the natural magnesium-centred chlorophyll in leaves, which is poorly absorbed. Eating leafy greens does not deliver a comparable chlorophyllin dose.
SafetyGenerally well tolerated. Expect green discoloration of stool, urine and tongue — harmless but alarming if unexpected, and it can be mistaken for melena. GI upset, cramping and diarrhea occur, mainly at higher doses. Photosensitivity has been reported occasionally; use sun protection. Chlorophyllin supplies copper, which matters in Wilson disease or alongside high-dose supplemental copper. Because it binds compounds in the gut, separate from medications by at least 2 hours. Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not established. Not banned in sport. Liquid products are often preserved and flavored — check labels if you are sensitive to additives.

How to take it

TimingTiming does not matter; the chemoprevention trials split it three times daily.
With food?Either way, in a glass of water — but keep it 2 hours away from medications.
Worth knowingGreen stool, urine and tongue are expected and harmless, but the dark stool can be mistaken for gastrointestinal bleeding, so mention it if you are ever assessed for that.

Interactions

With medications

  • oral medications generally

    Chlorophyllin binds compounds in the gut and can reduce drug absorption. separate by at least 2 hours

With other supplements

  • copper supplements

    Chlorophyllin is a copper complex, so it adds to your total copper intake. count it toward your copper total, and avoid entirely in Wilson disease

Well-established interactions only — this is not a complete list. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist what you take.

Frequently asked questions

Does liquid chlorophyll clear acne?

There is no credible evidence: no randomized trial has tested oral chlorophyll drops for acne, and the claim rests on tiny open-label pilots of topical chlorophyllin gel with 10-24 participants and no placebo. Liquid chlorophyll has no plausible mechanism for clearing skin.

Does chlorophyll help with weight loss?

No. The weight-loss studies cited online used spinach-derived thylakoid membranes at around 5 g/day, not chlorophyll drops, which supply milligram amounts of sodium copper chlorophyllin. Chlorophyll itself has no weight-loss evidence.

Does chlorophyll work as an internal deodorant?

Only in a rare disorder: copper chlorophyllin at 60 mg/day reduced trimethylamine in people with trimethylaminuria (fish odor syndrome). There is no controlled evidence that chlorophyll reduces ordinary body, breath or stool odor.

Does chlorophyll turn your stool green?

Yes. Chlorophyll supplements commonly turn stool, urine and tongue green, which is harmless, but dark stool can be mistaken for gastrointestinal bleeding. Keep chlorophyll 2 hours away from medications, since it can bind them in the gut.

Scientific references

Where to buy

Codeage, Chlorophyll Liquid Drops, Peppermint, 2 fl oz (60 ml)

View on iHerb

Ships to 180+ countries · welcome discount for new customers

Referral link — this site may earn a commission on purchases.

Related in General health