Chlorella and vitamin D: does chlorella have vitamin D?

Chlorella has been measured contributing to vitamin D intake in at least one lab analysis, but the amount wasn't quantified into a single reliable figure, and it varies by species and batch — so we can't give you a specific vitamin D number for a chlorella label, only that it isn't nothing.

What the one analysis we found actually says

A 2021 laboratory nutrient analysis of 15 commercial microalgae powders — spanning several species including Chlorella pyrenoidosa and vulgaris — found that microalgae such as chlorella could meaningfully contribute to intake of several nutrients, vitamin D and E among them, alongside protein, calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc. The paper didn't isolate a single milligram or IU figure for chlorella's vitamin D specifically, and it found that nutrient profiles varied strongly between species and even between batches of the same species — so a specific number on one brand's label doesn't necessarily transfer to another.

Why that's a genuine gap, not a number we're withholding

Vitamin D content in a plant or algae source depends heavily on things like light exposure during growth and processing, which isn't standardized across chlorella producers. We haven't found a study that reports a consistent vitamin D figure across multiple chlorella brands or batches, so stating one here would be more specific than the evidence supports.

What that means if you're relying on chlorella for vitamin D

Don't assume a chlorella supplement is meeting your vitamin D needs without checking that specific product's own label — vitamin D isn't consistently declared on chlorella supplement facts panels the way it is on a dedicated vitamin D product. The adult RDA for vitamin D is 600 IU (15 mcg) a day for most adults, and 800 IU (20 mcg) for adults over 70, per the National Academies; a dedicated vitamin D supplement or fortified food is the better-studied way to reach that if a blood test shows a shortfall.

Questions people ask

Does chlorella have vitamin D?

Some, based on one lab analysis of commercial microalgae powders — but the amount wasn't quantified into a specific figure and varies by species and batch, so check the specific product's own label rather than assuming a standard amount.

Can chlorella replace a vitamin D supplement?

Not based on the evidence we've found. There's no reliable vitamin D figure for chlorella to compare against the RDA, and vitamin D isn't consistently listed on chlorella supplement labels the way it is on dedicated vitamin D products.

Related reading: what is chlorella, chlorella and zinc, and chlorella and magnesium.