Chlorophyllin

What is chlorophyllin?

Chlorophyllin is a semi-synthetic compound made from chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants. Manufacturers replace the magnesium at the center of the chlorophyll molecule with copper and make it water-soluble, producing sodium copper chlorophyllin. It is used as a green food coloring and is sold in “liquid chlorophyll” drinks and tablets that are marketed for body odor, breath and “detox.”

Because chlorophyllin contains copper, products that use it also supply copper. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements explains that copper is an essential mineral used by enzymes involved in energy production, iron metabolism and connective tissue, with a Daily Value of 0.9 mg for adults.

What the research says

Breath. The idea that chlorophyll deodorizes the body dates back decades, but modern tests are not encouraging. In a controlled breath study, researchers measured garlic-derived sulfur compounds on the breath after people ate raw garlic. Foods such as raw apple, parsley, spinach and mint reduced the odor compounds, but chlorophyllin showed no deodorizing effect compared with the control.

Mouth bacteria. In a laboratory study, a sodium copper chlorophyllin solution inhibited the growth of several anaerobic gum bacteria that produce odor-causing sulfur compounds, in a concentration-dependent way. This is test-tube evidence with solutions applied directly to bacteria; it does not show that a small amount swallowed in a tablet affects bacteria in the mouth.

Other uses. Chlorophyllin has been studied for its ability to bind certain dietary toxins such as aflatoxin; a toxicology review discusses how it may reduce absorption of this mold toxin. That research does not relate to oral health.

How it’s used in supplements

Chlorophyllin appears in liquid drops, tablets and capsules, often at doses of tens to a few hundred milligrams. It can turn stool green or dark and may cause mild digestive upset. Because it is a copper compound, it contributes to total copper intake; the adult upper limit for copper is 10 mg per day, and people with Wilson’s disease, a genetic disorder of copper handling, must avoid extra copper. High zinc intake can also interfere with copper balance, so it is worth looking at all your supplements together.

If fresh breath is your goal, the more reliable steps are cleaning the teeth and tongue, flossing, staying hydrated and seeing a dentist if odor persists. MedlinePlus also notes that chewing fresh parsley or a strong mint can mask temporary bad breath.