Abstract
The sources of bioavailable vitamin B(12) are limited, and most of them are animal-derived. Chlorella vulgaris, a freshwater microalga, is known for immune system boosting, nutraceutical properties and presence of a natural form of vitamin B(12). The present study focused on the in vivo evaluation of the Chlorella biomass as a source of bioavailable vitamin B(12) to alleviate the vitamin B(12) deficiency status of Wistar rats. Experimental animals were evaluated for the vitamin B(12) deficiency-related circulatory marker (serum vitamin B(12)) and functional markers (plasma homocysteine and urinary methylmalonic acid), haematological and histological changes. The results showed that an increase of 2.4-fold in urinary methylmalonic acid (13.01 ± 0.89 µmoles moles of creatinine(-1)), 2.6-fold in plasma homocysteine (17.18 ± 3.57 µmole L(-1)), and 48% decrease in serum vitamin B(12) levels (252.69 ± 1.46 pg mL(-1)) in vitamin B(12) deficient group compared to control animals. The Chlorella biomass supplementation in the diet led to the restoration of the functional and circulatory markers, hematological parameters, and vitamin B(12) content of kidney and liver to control levels. The Chlorella biomass supplementation increased the erythrocyte precursors and MAST cells in the bone marrow and also normalized the histological features of kidney, liver, and lung tissues. The results suggest that the vitamin B(12) from the Chlorella biomass was bioavailable and facilitated the improvement of vitamin B(12) status in deficient rats.