Tag: seaweed health benefits

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Period Pain

Period Pain Seaweed Trial Abstract

period pain seaweed trial abstract

The Attenuation of Dysmenorrhea and Menorrhagia by the Red Seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii: A pilot study.

Authors: Leanne M Sterling J Hugh Butler July 2021

Extended-Abstract-Dysmenorrhea-kappaphycus-v0.2Download

Download or read the abstract for period pain seaweed trial from a trial undertaken in 2020. Volunteers ate a small serving of seaweed on a daily basis to reduce impacts on lifestyle and to improve health and wellbeing.

M. Armour et al., “The prevalence and academic impact of dysmenorrhea in 21,573 young women: a systematic review and meta-analysis,” Journal of Women’s Health, vol. 28, no. 8, pp. 1161-1171, 2019 (Pubmed)

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Biosea Health Health Benefits

Trace Elements in Seaweed

trace elements in seaweed Pacific Seamoss

Introduction

Trace elements in seaweed and even macro nutrient analysis of seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii used in Pacific Seamoss is not published or standardized in the USDA data. This review of data from researchers confirms seaweed is very nutritious and can provide hard to get nutrients in an easy form. We publish this in a form to be used in nutrition of seaweed.

Various sources of information are conflicting as the seaweed has been grown in different areas and authors seldom measured what we know is important in seaweed nutrition including the water quality, the age of the seaweed, the phenotype, and how it treated and stored post harvest. The various authors include:

  • Wanyoni in 20171 with seaweed from the Yasawa Islands, Fiji
  • Rajasculochana  2,3 from Tamil Nadu in India in 2010 and 2013 has differing levels in different papers.
  • Keyimu Abdullah 2016 4 used Malaysian seaweed from Langkawi and Sabah
  • Seasonal variations in nutrients were identified by Kumar 5 who collected in Gujarat in NorthWest India
  • Abriami in 2011 reviewed nutrient and nutraceutical potential in Tamil Nadu, India 6
  • Lumbessy 7 focused on amino acids from West Nusa Tenggara Indonesia
  • Fayaz 2005 8 measured some vitamins in India

What are RDI, EAR and %DI Values

There are 3 different measures for how much to eat or how much is safe.

The Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) is used to examine the probability that usual intake is inadequate. It is used to estimate the prevalence of inadequate intakes within a group. The Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) is used when usual intake at or above this level has a low probability of inadequacy. It is higher than the EAR sometimes as it is the daily intake level of a nutrient considered to be sufficient to meet the requirements of 97–98% of healthy individuals in every demographic in the United States. 

The RDI values are taken from a range of sources 8 (AU / NZ standards here)

Recently, the labeling regulations in the USA has changed to % Daily Value (%DV) and is the percentage of the Daily Value for each nutrient in a serving of the food. The Daily Values are reference amounts (expressed in grams, milligrams, or micrograms) of nutrients to consume or not to exceed each day.

For chemicals to be mimimised, the acceptable daily intake (ADI) used and is defined as the maximum amount of a chemical that can be ingested daily over a lifetime with no appreciable health risk, and is based on the highest intake that does not give rise to observable adverse effects.

Amino Acid Requirements

Only the essential amino acids have requirements.  The numbers are from Recommended Dietary Allowances: 10th Edition. National Research Council (US) Subcommittee on the Tenth Edition of the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1989. They are based on the mg per kg of weight. 9

Upper Limits

Upper limits are set for some minerals such as nickel. 10.

Trace Elements Nutrient Levels of Pacific Sea Moss

Name of ElementSymbolPer ServePer 100gRDI or %DVDaily Serve ( % RDI)
AluminiumAl0.3mg0.3mg30.0mg0.90%
ArsenicAr0.0mg0.0mg1.0mg1.07%
BoronB0.3mg0.3mg30.0mg0.98%
BariumBa0.0mg0.0mg1.0mg0.32%
BromineBr3.0mg3.0mg100.0mg3.00%
CalciumCa22.4mg22.4mg600.0mg3.74%
CadmiumCd0.0mg0.0mg0.0mg5.75%
CarbonC371.3mg371.3mg0.0mg
ChlorineCl585.8mg585.8mg10000.0mg5.86%
CobaltCo0.0mg0.0mg0.0mg26.67%
ChromiumCr0.1ug0.1ug25.0ug0.25%
CopperCu0.0mg0.0mg1.0mg0.48%
FluorineF0.0mg0.0mg2.0mg0.00%
HydrogenH0.0mg0.0mg0.0mgn/a
IodineI23.6ug23.6ug150.0ug15.70%
IronFe1.1mg1.1mg11.0mg9.65%
LeadPb0.0mg0.0mg0.0mg3.75%
MercuryHg0.0mg0.0mg0.0mg6.88%
PotassiumK500.0mg500.0mg3800.0mg13.16%
MagnesiumMg14.2mg14.2mg320.0mg4.45%
ManganeseMn0.0mg0.0mg5.5mg0.21%
MolybdenumMo0.3ug0.3ug45.0ug0.56%
OxygenO500.0mg500.0mg20000.0mg2.50%
PhosphorusP0.8mg0.8mg700.0mg0.11%
SodiumNa94.2mg94.2mg2000.0mg4.71%
NickelNi19.6ug19.6ug1000.0ug1.96%
NitrogenN1302.01302.0nana
SeleniumSe2.5ug2.5ug60.0ug4.17%
StrontiumSr0.4mg0.4mg1.5mg24.58%
SulphurS77.8mg77.8mg980.0mg7.93%
VanadiumV0.0mg0.0mg1.8mg0.57%
ZincZn0.3mg0.3mg7.0mg3.70%
The trace element nutrients values are from Wanyonyi et al 2017 for Kappaphycus alvarezii from Fiji Mar. Drugs 2017, 15 and other researchers over the past 15 years. There is varying nutrient levels depending on time of year, age of harvest of the seaweed. See the label for the values of major elements and vitamins.

Good Nutrition. Good Outcomes

Customers tell us about how good they feel from eating seaweed. Hair growth. Nail growth.

References

[1] Wanyonyi S, du Preez R, Brown L, Paul NA, Panchal SK. Kappaphycus alvarezii as a Food Supplement Prevents Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats. Supplementary Data. Nutrients. 2017;9(11):2. doi:10.3390/nu9111261

[2] Rajasulochana P, Krishnamoorthy P, Dhamotharan R. Amino acids, fatty acids and minerals in Kappaphycus sp. 2010;5(5):12.Rajasulochana P, Krishnamoorthy P. An investigation on the neutraceutical aspects of the Kappaphycus alvarezii. Int J Pharm Res. 2013;5:25-33.

[3] Keyimu X, Abdullah A. Determination of Element Compositions and Antioxidant Activities of Kappaphycus alvarezii Found in the Waters of Langkawi and Sabah, Malaysia. Int J ChemTech Res. Published online 2016:6.

[4] Kumar KS, Ganesan K, Subba Rao PV, Thakur MC. Seasonal studies on field cultivation of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty on the northwest coast of India. J Appl Phycol. 2016;28(2):1193–1205. doi:10.1007/s10811-015-0629-y

[5]Abirami RG, Kowsalya S. Nutrient and Nutraceutical Potentials of Seaweed Biomass Ulva lactuca and Kappaphycus alvarezii. :8.

[6] Lumbessy SY, Andayani S, Nursyam H, Firdaus M. Biochemical study of amino acid profile of Kappaphycus alvarezii and Gracilaria salicornia seaweeds from Gerupuk Waters, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). EurAsian J Biosci. Published online 2019:5.

[7] Chemical Composition, Iron Bioavailability, and Antioxidant Activity of Kappaphycus alvarezzi (Doty) | Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Accessed October 26, 2020. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jf0493627

[8] Allowances NRC (US) S on the TE of the RD. Protein and Amino Acids. National Academies Press (US); 1989. Accessed October 26, 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK234922/

[9] Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand Including Recommended Dietary Intakes. :320.

[10] Institute of Medicine (US) Panel on Micronutrients. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2001. 13, Arsenic, Boron, Nickel, Silicon, and Vanadium. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK222322/

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Biosea Health Period Pain

Seaweed Reduces Period Bleeding

seaweed reduces period bleeding

Periods are experienced by over 2.1 Billion women globally. Humans are only one of 84 species out of 5149 species [1] that suffer from bleeding in menstruation. Painful periods (dysmenorrhea) are experienced most women at sometime. Estimates of the numbers who experience dsymenorrhea regularly vary but best estimate is between 40 to 60%. In a 150 person trial in 2020, we found seaweed reduced period bleeding. Not only a reduction in duration but also in the heaviness, leading to lower use of feminine products and improved quality of life.

Women in 2019 will have approximately 400 periods over their lives, in contrast to a century ago when women would have about 40. Shorter lifespans, more children, more time spent in breastfeeding all contributed to the lower number.

From Critchley. Menstruation: science and society. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2020.

Therefore, abnormal uterine bleeding. (or AUB) is increasingly common. Women may experience significant anemia resulting in a poor physical quality of life. A negative financial effect occurs because of the cost of managing their blood loss and an inability to work outside the home. These costs, alongside a loss of caring ability, will have a negative effect on the wider family. The cost to society through loss of work days and healthcare costs is significant. A UK study showed that women on average have 8 days off work annually and other studies put the cost at over $9 billion direct costs and lost productivity per year.

Periods and Bleeding are Taboo Subjects

In 2020, Facebook has maintained a ban on an advert for women’s period undies despite its creators fighting the ruling three times.

Australian underwear brand Modibodi specialises in “leak-proof” undies that help women during their menstruation cycles as well as with incontinence. Unlike traditional sanitary pads and tampons, the underwear has a special lining built in that absorbs the bodily fluids and can be used, washed and re-used multiple times.

But the brand’s latest ad campaign, which discusses how women are made to feel “gross” when they have their periods, has been labelled “shocking” and “sensational” by Facebook for showing images of menstrual blood.

This taboo is not new [5]. In seventeenth-century Spain, in addition to being accused of spreading the plague, Jewish males were commonly assumed to menstruate: the Jewish body supposedly leaked impure blood. Certain important Spanish doctors—the king’s own physicians—demonstrated menstruation to be symptomatic in Jewish males. These physicians and other sources from the time typically combine the accusation of menstruation with that of hemorrhoids, classifying a blood flow from the anatomically ambiguous lower strata of the male body as a Jewish disease. While this was not a new accusation, in seventeenth-century Spain it was combined for the first time with legal language that sought to create a notion of “impure blood” as referring to one’s family or caste. In  Beusterien’s study, he argues that medical discourse about menstruation was here uniquely combined with legal discourse in order to create a notion of racial impurity.

How Is Period Bleeding Measured?

Which measure is the most relevant? The total number of days that the woman has bleeding? The number of heavy bleeding days? In a company pilot trial of 150 participants to investigate the effect of seaweed on dysmenorrhea, we asked trial participants to report on both the duration and heaviness of menstrual bleeding.

Seaweed Reduced Severity of Bleeding

Seaweed reduced the number of days of heavy bleeding. Before, 24% reported heavy bleed days, but afterwards, this had dropped to 12%. The number of women where heavy bleeding was only 1 day went from 6% to over 23%.

Data from 150 trial participants in May 2020. The number of heavy bleeding days.

Seaweed reduces Duration of Bleeding

A really interesting outcome for the women in the trial was that the duration of bleeding reduced by 2 days on average. Most women (70%) experience bleeding days of 4 or more. After seaweed, only 40% had days of bleeding greater than 4.

Pacific Seamoss seaweed reduces days of bleeding in menstruation
Data from trial October 2020. n=71, P=0.001. Before seaweed, 63% said their days of bleeding were 4 to 6 days. After seaweed, it halved. Those reporting 2 to 4 days rose from 31% to 55%.  I.e. For many, duration of bleeding drops about 2 days.

What Did Women Say?

Check out what trial participants said here

Tonnes of Waste

Pads and tampons are responsible for about 200,000 tonnes of waste per year – most of which contains plastic. Then there’s the secondary issue of flushing used products down the toilet, with nearly 0.5% of all marine plastics debris being tampon applicators.[5]

From National Geographic Sept 6, 2019 [6]

This colossal waste burden however, isn’t the only ecological impact of disposable feminine hygiene products. A Life Cycle Assessment of tampons conducted by the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, found that the largest impact on global warming was caused by the processing of LDPE (low-density polyethylene, a thermoplastic made from the monomer ethylene) used in tampon applicators as well as in the plastic back-strip of a sanitary napkin requiring high amounts of fossil fuel generated energy. A year’s worth of a typical feminine hygiene product leaves a carbon footprint of 5.3 kg CO2 equivalents. [7]

References

[1] Critchley H. et al. (2020) Menstruation: science and society . American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology available online 21 July 2020 Prepress. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2020.06.004

[2] Molina, N.M.; Sola-Leyva, A.; Saez-Lara, M.J.; Plaza-Diaz, J.; Tubić-Pavlović, A.; Romero, B.; Clavero, A.; Mozas-Moreno, J.; Fontes, J.; Altmäe, S. New Opportunities for Endometrial Health by Modifying Uterine Microbial Composition: Present or Future? Biomolecules 2020, 10, 593.

[3] Facebook bans Modibodi period underwear ad for violating guidelines 2020 News.com

[4] Beusterien, John L. “Jewish Male Menstruation in Seventeenth-Century Spain.” Bulletin of the History of Medicine, vol. 73 no. 3, 1999, p. 447-456. Project MUSE, doi:10.1353/bhm.1999.0097.

[5] The environmental impact of tampons and pads. (Taboo)

[6] How tampons and pads became so unsustainable (National Geographic)

[7] The Ecological Impact of Feminine Hygiene Products 2016 (Accessed 2020)

Categories
Antiviral Biosea Health

Seaweed better than Remdesivir

seaweed better than remdesivir

The red seaweeds Kappaphycus and Eucheuma have been studied since 1958 for the prevention and treatment of virus infections and the most recent peer-reviewed studies say seaweed is better than remdesivir.

Seaweed is an Untapped Resource

There is an untapped resource in virus prevention and attenuation of symptoms particularly for countries who have an established seaweed industry. Seaweeds are emerging as a potential major player in the fight for the prevention and treatment of the latest disease. New evidence confirms seaweed is better than remdesivir as an effective anti-viral agent.

The idea that seaweed is protective against major pandemic viruses is not new. Back in 1958, seaweed was demonstrated to be effective against Influenza B. More recently seaweed was implicated as an protective factor in the different rates of HIV-AIDS disease burden between Africa and Asia. (Teas et al. 2004) Throughout the years since then, slowly science has been putting together a picture of the impressive anti-viral protection seaweeds could deliver on a population level.

With the ongoing pandemic taking its toll on economic, health and societal norms, countries with an established seaweed industry have a real opportunity to improve not only the health of their people but also the health of their economies.

Seaweed is Antiviral

In 2020 seaweed research is looking specifically at the impact of seaweed on the latest virus. The spike protein on the surface of the virus latches onto the ACE-2 receptor, a molecule on the surface of human cells. Once secured, the virus inserts its own genetic material into the cell, hijacking the cellular machinery to produce replica viruses. But the virus could just as easily be persuaded to lock onto a decoy molecule that offers a similar fit. The neutralized virus would be trapped and eventually degrade naturally. Previous research has shown this decoy technique works in trapping other viruses, including dengue, Zika, and influenza A.

Latest Research Publications

Four publications in 2020 confirm seaweed should be considered as part of a modern program.

1. Extracts from Red Seaweed inhibit Infection

Research from Korea, Song [10] screened 4 marine sulfated polysaccharides for their inhibitory activities against the virus including sea cucumber sulfated polysaccharide (SCSP), fucoidan from brown algae, iota-carrageenan from red algae, and chondroitin sulfate C from shark. The extract of carrageenan from red seaweeds was at concentrations of 3.90~500 μg/mL. (Song et al. 2020)

Such a dose would be achieved with a daily consumption of a few grams of dried Pacific Seamoss.

2. Seaweed Better than Remdesivir

In Kwon’s Nature paper they used a test of antiviral effectiveness against the virus. The data showed that a seaweed carragenan extract substantially outperformed remdesivir which is the current standard antiviral used to combat the disease. This was compared also with another treatments: heparin which is a common blood thinner, and a heparin variant stripped of its anticoagulant properties. These performed on par with remdesivir in inhibiting viral infection in mammalian cells.

The Science Daily Here has a good article on the progress for seaweeds with antiviral properties.

3. Natural Substances are Inhibitors

Thirdly, Gentile et al [11] screened over 14,000 compounds. The virus has a clearly defined protein and protease structure and they reduced the target compounds to down to 17 potential inhibitors. These have been identified among the natural substances of marine origin and believe one or more will be very useful proteases.

4. Commercial Anti-Viral Nasal Sprays Effective

Mariomed – a European based company introduced a nasal spray effective against rhinoviruses in 2014, have recently focused on the latest virus. Morokutti-Kurz et al [13] from Mariomed Biotech AG released a paper that takes iota-carragenan and kappa-carragenan and found the neutralization capacity of iota-carrageenan, was in the same range as a positive serum from a patient.

5. Seaweed Good For Boosting Immunity

Over the years, seaweed has been known to boost immunity. Improved nutrition is important. E.g. Iodine supports thyroid function and is an important organ for repairing damaged cells. Seaweed has 7 times the amount of zinc as oranges, so it only makes sense to use it for preventing sickness. The science says Vitamin C stimulates the production of white blood cells in the body – these are what fight off invaders such as viruses. Our bodies can’t make our own Vitamin C, so it has to be found in our diets or through supplements. That’s where seaweed comes in! With its high Vitamin C levels, it boosts your immune system greatly. There is 25% of your daily requirements in seaweed.

Conclusion

Eating seaweed may be very effective to reduce the activity of the latest virus. It certainly will not do any harm, but from the current literature will do a great deal of good, particularly in countries who do not want the $390 per vial / $2340 cost of treatment with remdesivir when $2 per day of seaweed may be better and more available.

References

[1] J. Teas, J. R. Hebert, J. H. Fitton, and P. V. Zimba, “Algae–a poor man’s HAART?,” Medical Hypotheses, vol. 62, no. 4, pp. 507-510, 2004. (Science Direct)

[2] E. M. Brown et al., “Seaweed and human health,” Nutrition reviews, vol. 72, no. 3, pp. 205-216, 2014.

[3] A. J. Te Velthuis, S. H. van den Worm, A. C. Sims, R. S. Baric, E. J. Snijder, and M. J. van Hemert, “Zn2+ inhibits virus and arterivirus RNA polymerase activity in vitro and zinc ionophores block the replication of these viruses in cell culture,” PLoS pathogens, vol. 6, no. 11, 2010. (PLOS)

[4] K. S. Kumar, K. Ganesan, and P. S. Rao, “Antioxidant potential of solvent extracts of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty–An edible seaweed,” Food chemistry, vol. 107, no. 1, pp. 289-295, 2008.(Link Here)

[5] R. J. Snelgrove, L. Edwards, A. J. Rae, and T. Hussell, “An absence of reactive oxygen species improves the resolution of lung influenza infection,” European journal of immunology, vol. 36, no. 6, pp. 1364-1373, 2006.  (PLOS)

[6] Grassauer A, Weinmuellner R, Meier C, Pretsch A, Prieschl-Grassauer E, Unger H. Iota-Carrageenan is a potent inhibitor of rhinovirus infection. Virol J. 2008;5:107. Published 2008 Sep 26. doi:10.1186/1743-422X-5-107 (PubMed)

[7] Koenighofer, M., Lion, T., Bodenteich, A. et al. Carrageenan nasal spray in virus confirmed common cold: individual patient data analysis of two randomized controlled trials. Multidiscip Respir Med 9, 57 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/2049-6958-9-57 (SpringerLink)

[8] Khamsi, R 2006 Seaweed compound blocks cervical cancer virus New Scientist

[9] Buck CB, Thompson CD, Roberts JN, Müller M, Lowy DR, et al. (2006) Carrageenan Is a Potent Inhibitor of Papillomavirus Infection. PLOS Pathogens 2(7): e69. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.0020069

[10] Song, S, Peng, H, Wang, Q, Liu, Z, Dong, X, Wen, C, Ai, C, Zhang, Y, Wang, Z & Zhu, B-W 2020, Inhibitory activities of marine sulfated polysaccharides. Food & function.

[11] Gentile, D.; Patamia, V.; Scala, A.; Sciortino, M.T.; Piperno, A.; Rescifina, A. A Virtual Screening and Molecular Modeling Study. Mar. Drugs 2020, 18, 225. (Reference)

[12] Kwon, P.S., Oh, H., Kwon, S. Jin W, Zhang F, Fraser K, Hong J Linhardt RJ & Dordicket JS . Sulfated polysaccharides effectively inhibit in vitro. Cell Discov 6, 50 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41421-020-00192-8 (Nature)

[13] Morokutti-Kurz, M; Graf, P; Grassauer, A; Prieschl-Grassauer E. 2020. SARS-CoV-2 in-vitro neutralization assay reveals inhibition of virus entry by iota-carrageenan. BioRxiv Preprint https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.28.224733v1

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Beauty Biosea Health Health Benefits

Hair Grows Faster With Seaweed

Hair grows faster with seaweed Pacific Sea Moss

Ever wondered how insta influencers get luscious, long hair without extensions? Why is it that their hair grows faster?

So do we. Most of us have to spend hundreds on expensive products only to find ourselves with brittle hair and split ends from all the over styling we’ve been doing. Does this sound a lot like your daily struggle?

Our Customers Report Hair Grows Faster

Well, we’ve got some great news for you. the science buffs at Biosea Health have stumbled upon some amazing science that may hold the answers. Their customers, taking seaweed for blood pressure problems, started reporting hair was growing quickly and trips to the barber or hairdresser were becoming more frequent.

Turns out that seaweed could be the solution to our dry, damaged-hair problems. Studies have shown that the right amount of seaweed can increase hair growth by nearly four times. Yes, you read that correctly, four times faster than the normal rate of hair growth.

Hair Grew 4 times faster in Experiments

In a study back in 2011, Muhammad et al found within 15 days, those that ate seaweed with recently cut hair had a regrowth rate of 95-100% and those that did not eat seaweed had a regrowth rate of 25-30%. Basically, with a high seaweed diet, we can see our hair transforming from lush to lusher.

Want to see the results but don’t fancy a munching on a big bowl of seaweed everyday? Not a problem. Biosea Health have dried whole seaweed and put it into capsules or granules so you can get the right amount of seaweed without having to chow down on sea-greens by the bucket load

So, ditch the hair-growth gummies and test out a more effective, vegan alternative to long, lively hair.

STAGES IN HAIR GROWTH

hair grows faster with Pacific Seamoss

ANATOMY OF HAIR

hair grows faster with seaweed. Anatomy of hair follicle

HAIR GROWTH IN RATS

hair grows faster with seaweed
(a) Ethanolic extract of seaweed, (b) aquaeous extract of seaweed (c) honey, (d) water. From Fard et al [1]

Why did hair grow faster?

The authors found the extraction fraction from seaweed also possessed several antioxidant compounds which may be responsible for the accelerated hair growth and wound healing. Hair is considered to be a major component of an individual’s general appearance. Demand for medications that alter hair growth and appearance has led to a multibillion-dollar industry and thus far few natural effective products are available.

Customers eating Pacific Seamoss have provided us with glowing testimonials that their hair growth is better.

References

[1] Muhammad, K. and S. Mohamed (2011). “Ethanolic extract of Eucheuma cottonii promotes in vivo hair growth and wound healing.” J. Anim. Vet. Adv 10: 601-605. (MedWell)

Seaweed – not just good food, Food for Health. Try it. See if your hair grows faster!
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Biosea Health

Heal Wounds Faster With Seaweed

Wounds heal faster with seaweed. Use Pacific Sea Moss

Heal Wounds Faster – the science

Surprise, surprise! We’ve found yet another incredible health benefit from seaweed. Turns out seaweed is not just great for your nails, hair and overall health, it’s actually works to heal wounds faster.

Our Biosea science team has stumbled across some research in wound healing that will knock your socks off.

In a 2011 study, seaweed was given to wounded rats to assess its effects on the healing process. Those that were fed the seaweed had 100% wound healing over 15 days. Those that were not fed the seaweed supplement only had a 50% healing rate (Muhammad and Mohamed 2011). Basically, those that supplement their diet with seaweed should see their wounds heal 50% quicker than those that don’t eat their sea-greens.

From Mohamed 2011 – hair and wound healing in mice with seaweed [1]

The Real World

Most of us deal with burns, scratches or wounds with a band-aid and some curse words.

But imagine if the healing process really was faster? For young people, regular intake of seaweed could help with ulcers, cold sores or the occasional skateboarding injury. Maybe we’d live a little bit more on the edge (in a good way, of course). But what about that angry red zit you’ve had to pop? Imagine if it healed quickly enough to not scar, or ruin Friday date night? Perhaps seaweed could be the answer to quick-healing blemishes. In our pilot trial for dysmenorrhea, 60% of the participants said their skin healing was faster.

Customers Report Wounds Heal Faster

Over a dozen customers of Pacific Seamoss report they have gone into surgery for skin operations, such as Basal Cell Carcinoma removal, Arthroscopic surgery, knee surgery and when they return to get the stitches out, the surgeon or nurse are surprised wounds haved healed much faster than expected. These are anecdotal studies. But when a surgeon who has done thousands of operations comments on speed of recovery, its time to pursue some more.

Heal Wounds Faster if You are Older

For someone over 70, a significant wound can perpetuate into something much worse. A wound or ulcer could be the difference between vitality and immobility; even seeing the grandkids or doing the things that bring them joy.
We all know that grandma would probably not be keen to eat 10 rolls of sushi a day, but a couple of capsules from Biosea health could make a massive difference to her life. For the youngins, we may not be incapacitated from a minor injury but next time we take a tumble, we’ll be grateful that we had our daily dose of sea-greens to see us through.

So, try seaweed out for yourself and see if it makes a difference. But most importantly, make sure you get grandma onto it (and maybe even mum and dad). They’ll thank you later.

WOUND HEALING PHASES

heal wounds faster process - over 12 months
The cycle of wound healing with 4 distinct phases. Diagram from [2]

References

[1] Samaneh Ghasemi Fard, Fatemeh Tash Shamsabadi, Mozhdeh Emadi, Goh Yong Meng, Kharidah Muhammad and Suhaila Mohamed (2011). “Ethanolic extract of Eucheuma cottonii promotes in vivo hair growth and wound healing.” J. Anim. Vet. Adv 10: 601-605. (MedWell) DOI10.3923/javaa.2011.601.605

[2] Panayi A.C., Reitblat C., Orgill D.P. (2020) Wound Healing and Scarring. In: Ogawa R. (eds) Total Scar Management. Springer, Singapore (DOI)

Seaweed – not just good food, Food for Health and Heal wounds faster!

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Beauty Biosea Health Health Benefits

Naturally Healthy Nails with Seaweed

Nails grow stronger naturally healthy nails with seaweed

Naturally Healthy Nails with Seaweed

Most of us have 20 nails. Finger nails. Toe nails. And while the industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and there are thousands of vitamins and minerals, the peer reviewed science [1] says that vitamins and minerals do not make for healthy nails naturally.

In late 2019, after about 1 month of sales, we started getting feedback from our customers that they were getting naturally healthy nails. At first we didn’t believe them. The science evidence was clear that supplemention with vitamins and minerals did not lead to healthy nails.

Yet here are just some comments back

  • I have to cut my finger nails every week.  Used to be every 2 weeks. Sidney – Adelaide, SA, AU
  • My nails are the best they have been for 40 years. Judy – QLD, Aus
  • Stronger nails Wayne, QLD
  • My nails are the best they have been since I had thyroid cancer 20 years ago. Amazing. Why?  Lea, QLD, Aust

Testimonial

Anais provided this testimonial. She ate seaweed as she saw the good food and vitamins. She was unaware about the effect on nails and hair. In just 3 weeks this is her story.

SEAWEED FOR NATURALLY HEALTHY NAILS

Artificial Products Promoting healthy nails

Nails are a beauty / personal statement and the consumer market is full of products that claim to make naturally healthy nails. The ingredients in these “miracle” lotions are generally synthetic vitamins, a protein complex and soy protein. The ingredients for this of “Sally Hansen Nail Growth Miracle” that is “vegan” and pure and states it is formulated without formaldehye, formaldehyde resin, toluene, xylene, acetone camphor, parabens, ethyl toluide, triphenyl phosphate animal-derived ingredients but does include:

Ethyl Acetate, Alcohol Denat, Butyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Tosylamide/Formaldehyde Resin, Aqua/Water/ Eau, Isopropyl Alcohol, N-butyl Alcohol, Triphenyl Phosphate, Trimethyl Pentanyl Diisobutyrate, Acrylates Copolymer, Ethyl Tosylamide, Benzophonone 1, Dimethiconol, Mercaptopropionic Acid, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Calciumpantothenate, Ascorbic Acid, Keratin Amino Acids, Sodium Chloride, Violet 2 (Ci 60725).

Ingredients for Seaweed. Seaweed.

What is the relationship between seaweed and naturally healthy nails?

We don’t know. The published peer-reviewed research papers say vitamins and minerals don’t help healthy nails [11] yet Cashman [7] says every nutritional deficiency affects health. Every popular media article insists that eating healthy and taking multi-vitamins will provide naturally healthy nails, especially if you use Product “X”.

Seaweed is full of vitamins and minerals. A daily serve of 4.2g of dry seaweed includes:

  • Potassium: 30% of RDA (Recommended daily allowance)
  • Vitamin A: 30%RDA
  • Vitamin C: 30%
  • Vitamin B – especially B1, B3 and B6:  10%
  • Iodine: 15%
  • Iron: 9%
  • Magnesium: 6%
  • Seaweed is full of trace elements such as selenium (elements in this table)

Maybe the people who took this were not eating healthy? But that does not explain the large number of consumers that all say the same thing. Some only noticed after 3 months when their nails had grown out.

Is the Reason due to Improvement in Gut Health?

Seaweed is an effective pre-biotic and changes the gut bacteria. Animal studies show a change in microbiome.

  • Has 5% of daily dietary fibre
  • Has high insoluble carbohydrate to provide pre-biotic improvements.

We know a diet of seaweed provides powerful anti-oxidants. In human and animal trials there is a reduction in fatty liver, lower blood pressure, less inflammation in liver, gut, and heart. So maybe this is involved?

Seaweed Does Moderate Hormonal Systems

  • Seaweed has impact on oestrogen levels and has been researched for breast cancer  and for other cancers and in antiviral studies. The evidence is that the seaweed assists in stabilizing hormonal levels.

NAIL GROWTH DETAILS

naturally healthy nails anatomy
Nails are complex. What can you do for naturally healthy nails

LOOK AFTER NAILS, NATURALLY

healthy nails naturally - avoid nail saloons
Nail saloons can be sources of infection

Naturally Health Nails Are Wanted!

A healthy fingernail has the function of protecting the distal phalanx, the fingertip, and the surrounding soft tissues from injuries. It also serves to enhance precise delicate movements of the distal digits through counter-pressure exerted on the pulp of the finger. We want healthy nails naturally as most don’t want to spend hours attending to them.

What Nails Tell Us About Our Health

There are many myths and stories about the health of our nails. This is just a list from health.com: 10 Things Your Nails Say About Your Health; by Kathleen Mulpeter. Most arise due to poor nutrition, and healthy living will give you naturally healthy nails.

  • Yellow nails – occurs with age or with smoking
  • Dry cracked or brittle nails; There are various physical causes such as overuse of nail polisher, frequent dishwashing, swimming. Brittle nails maybe associated with hypothyroidism
  •  Clubbing. may be a sign of liver or kidney disease
  • White spots Some suggest it is associated with calcium but minor trauma is more likely
  • Horizontal ridges. Minor trauma only
  • Vertical ridges – age – like wrinkles on your face
  • Severely bitten nails – sometimes OCB behaviour
  • Spoon nails – thin nails and short of iron
  • Pitting  – may be psoriasis
  • Dark stripes or a painful growth. Melanoma.

References

[1] Scheinfeld N, Dahdah MJ, Scher R. 2007 Vitamins and minerals: their role in nail health and disease.J Drugs Dermatol. 2007 Aug;6(8):782-7. (Pubmed)

[2] E. M. Brown et al., “Seaweed and human health,” Nutrition reviews, vol. 72, no. 3, pp. 205-216, 2014.

[3] S. Wanyonyi, R. Du Preez, L. Brown, N. A. Paul, and S. K. Panchal, “Kappaphycus alvarezii as a food supplement prevents diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats,” Nutrients, vol. 9, no. 11, p. 1261, 2017. (Nutrition)

[5] Teas, J. et al. Could dietary seaweed reverse the metabolic syndrome? 145–157 http://apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/APJCN/18/2/145.pdf (2009).

[6] du Preez, R. et al. Carrageenans from the Red Seaweed Sarconema filiforme Attenuate Symptoms of Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats. Mar. Drugs 18, 97 (2020).

[7] Cashman,M, Sloan, S 2010 Nutrition and nail disease 2010 Clinics in Dermatology Vol 28, Issue 4, July–August 2010, Pages 420-425 (Science Direct)

[9] Jung J, Lee JA, Ko MM, et al Gyejibongneyong-hwan, a herbal medicine for the treatment of dysmenorrhoea with uterine fibroids: a protocol for a randomised controlled trialBMJ Open 2016;6:e013440. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013440

Seaweed – not just good food, Food for Health and Nail Vitality

Categories
Beauty Biosea Health Period Pain

Reduce period pain with Seaweed

Reduce period pain - dysmenorrhea naturally with seaweed

Reduce period pain

Painful periods or menstrual cramps, is pain during menstruation. The technical name is dysmenorrhea. It normally occurs around the time that menstruation begins, and symptoms typically last less than three days. The pain is usually in the pelvis or lower abdomen. Other symptoms may include back pain, diarrhea or nausea.

Wikipedia says “Dysmenorrhea occurs less often in those who exercise regularly and those who have children early in life. Treatment may include the use of a heating pad. Medications that may help include NSAIDs such as ibuprofen. ”

In severe cases and in many countries, then hormonal birth control and the IUD with progestogen are effective but they are not cheap or many do not want to go on the pill at an early age.

In a study in Spain with university students [11] over 75% had dsymenorrhea. Most (90.5%) students with dysmenorrhea used pharmacological treatment, and 80% self-medicated.  Its a major problem among youth today and impacts their quality of life. While physical activity may alleviate symptoms, other complementary treatments that work, should be promoted at all study and workplaces.

Katies Experience. Pain from 9 to a 1

Katie is a student in Davao, Philippines. She’s suffered dysmenorrhea for over 5 years. Her pain was sometimes so bad she failed assignments or examinations.  She was encouraged to eat Pacific Seamoss. In one month her pain went from a 9 to a 1.

Period PainReduce painful periods with seaweed. Pain score

Reduce Period pain with seaweed
Typical pain measuring scale.

Y DOES SEAWEED REDUCE PERIOD PAIN?

We don’t know specific reasons why Katies period pain went from she says was 11 to a 1. The first month – surprise. The second. Wow. This might work. Third month.  All with a pain scale of 1.  Why?

VITAMINS AND MINERALS REDUCE PERIOD PAIN

Theres good research that Vitamins and minerals do help for painful periods. Seaweed is packed full of vitamins and minerals. A daily serve of 4.2g of dry seaweed includes:

  • Potassium: 30% of RDA (Recommended daily allowance)
  • Vitamin A: 30%RDA
  • Vitamin C: 30%
  • Vitamin B – especially B1, B3 and B6:  10%
  • Iodine: 15%
  • Iron: 9%
  • Magnesium: 6%
  • Seaweed is full of trace elements such as selenium (elements in this table)

IMPROVEMENT IN GUT HEALTH

Seaweed is an effective pre-biotic and changes the gut bacteria. That is demonstrated in animal studies, and work is underway to check what happens in humans.

  • Has 5% of daily dietary fibre
  • Low energy but high insoluble carbohydrate to provide that pre-biotic improvements.

CHANGES IN HORMONAL SYSTEMS

  • Seaweed has impact on oestrogen levels and has been researched for breast cancer. Professor Teas didn’t know exactly what is going on. She concluded seaweed assists in stabilizing hormonal levels.

Pilot trials and clinical trials are in the planning stage to see how how clinically effective seaweed is.

ACNE IMPROVEMENT

A Korean herb Gyejibongneyong-hwan or the Guizhi Fuling Formula in Chinese, is widely used to treat uterine fibroids in East Asian countries including Korea, China and Japan but recent studies are underway to assess the efficacy and safety of the herbal formula for the treatment of primary and secondary dysmenorrhoea. What is interesting is that also is used to reduce acne; and other trials are underway to see if it improves acne.

Seaweed may also as well and we will follow those who take Pacific Seamoss and see if there is a reduction.

REFERENCES

[1] J. Teas, J. R. Hebert, J. H. Fitton, and P. V. Zimba, “Algae–a poor man’s HAART?,” Medical Hypotheses, vol. 62, no. 4, pp. 507-510, 2004. (Science Direct)

[2] E. M. Brown et al., “Seaweed and human health,” Nutrition reviews, vol. 72, no. 3, pp. 205-216, 2014.

[3] A. Farah Diyana, A. Abdullah, Z. Shahrul Hisham, and K. Chan, “Antioxidant activity of red algae Kappaphycus alvarezii and Kappaphycus striatum,” International Food Research Journal, vol. 22, no. 5, 2015. (Google Scholar)

[4] S. Wanyonyi, R. Du Preez, L. Brown, N. A. Paul, and S. K. Panchal, “Kappaphycus alvarezii as a food supplement prevents diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats,” Nutrients, vol. 9, no. 11, p. 1261, 2017. (Nutrition)

[5] Teas, J. et al. Could dietary seaweed reverse the metabolic syndrome? 145–157 http://apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/APJCN/18/2/145.pdf (2009).

[6] du Preez, R. et al. Carrageenans from the Red Seaweed Sarconema filiforme Attenuate Symptoms of Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats. Mar. Drugs 18, 97 (2020).

[ 7] American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (Jan 2015). “FAQ046 Dynsmenorrhea: Painful Periods” (PDF).

[8] Wong CL, Farquhar C, Roberts H, Proctor M (October 2009). “Oral contraceptive pill for primary dysmenorrhoea”. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (4): CD002120. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002120.pub3. PMID 19821293.

[9] Jung J, Lee JA, Ko MM, et al Gyejibongneyong-hwan, a herbal medicine for the treatment of dysmenorrhoea with uterine fibroids: a protocol for a randomised controlled trialBMJ Open 2016;6:e013440. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013440

[10] Kim KI et al Effects of herbal medicine for dysmenorrhea treatment on accompanied acne vulgaris: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2017 Jun 17;17(1):318. doi: 10.1186/s12906-017-1813-1. (Pubmed)

[11] Fernández-Martínez E, Onieva-Zafra MD, Parra-Fernández ML. 2019 The Impact of Dysmenorrhea on Quality of Life Among Spanish Female University Students. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Feb 27;16(5). pii: E713. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16050713. (Pubmed)

[12] Anastasakis, Eleftherios & Kingman, C & Lee, CA & Economides, D & Kadir, Rezan. (2008). Menstrual problems in university students: An electronic mail survey. In vivo (Athens, Greece). 22. 617-20. (Researchgate)

Categories
Beauty Biosea Health Weight loss

The Kardashians eat Seaweed!

Kardashians eat seaweed for health

Were you aware the Kardashians eat seaweed. Do you care? The internet lit up this week with news that Kim Kardashian sprinkles seamoss in her morning smoothie.
Fans from around the world have flooded search engines and online retailers in a frenzied attempt to learn more about seamoss. So, is seamoss just the latest fad or is Ms Kardashian onto something backed by science?

Kardashians eat Seaweed, and Diet is Backed by Science

Seamoss (or seaweed) has been a staple in the diet of coastal people for millennia and its health effects have been noted for just as long. In recent times, as the western diet has become widespread and lifestyle diseases are impacting national health budgets on an unprecedented scale, science has turned to traditional food sources to find where it all went wrong and how it can be fixed. Seamoss has emerged from the scientific community as a highly regarded functional food; namely a food that has medicinal properties as well as being high in nutrition and prebiotic benefits[1].

Australians Leading Seaweed Research for Food

Australia is one of the leading nations in functional food research. The University of Southern Queensland team, led by Professor Lindsay Brown, has conducted research into the effects of seamoss as an offset to the western high fat high carb diet. The USQ team found that the biological markers of metabolic syndrome; glucose tolerance, hypertension, fatty liver, central obesity; could all be reversed by adding seamoss to the daily food intake[1]. These experiments were done in rats, but earlier trials conducted in Ecuador showed similar results[2]. The key is to have a daily intake of seamoss at a level that keeps the bioactive compounds circulating in the blood stream. In other words, seamoss should be consumed as if it were a medicine.

Beyond metabolic syndrome, there is a great deal of science showing the benefits of having seamoss as a regular part of the diet. Trials examining populations of regular seamoss eaters (such as those Blue Zones of Okinawa) show reduced rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia[3].

How Does Seaweed Work

So how does seamoss create all these wonderful effects? The main mechanism is the positive change to the ratio of good to bad gut bacteria. Seamoss has been shown to dramatically increase the number of good bacteria, so they pump health enhancing compounds, including short chain fatty acids, into the blood stream. Inflammation is then reduced throughout the body and organs, especially the liver, work more efficiently. Seamoss then creates an epigenetic shift in gene expression, upregulating genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism[4]. These have effects on the cardiovascular system and the immune system as well as preventing obesity and type 2 diabetes.
In a nutshell, seamoss creates a biological shield against metabolic disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease and the inflammation that causes premature ageing.

It seems like we should all be taking a leaf out of Ms Kardashian’s health book and add seamoss to our daily routines.

References

[1] S. Wanyonyi, R. Du Preez, L. Brown, N. A. Paul, and S. K. Panchal, “Kappaphycus alvarezii as a food supplement prevents diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats,” Nutrients, vol. 9, no. 11, p. 1261, 2017.

[2] J. Teas, M. E. Baldeón, D. E. Chiriboga, J. R. Davis, A. J. Sarriés, and L. E. Braverman, “Could dietary seaweed reverse the metabolic syndrome?,” Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition, vol. 18, no. 2, p. 145, 2009.

[3] A. Nanri et al., “Dietary patterns and all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease mortality in Japanese men and women: The Japan public health center-based prospective study,” PloS one, vol. 12, no. 4, 2017.

[4] Y. X. Chin, Y. Mi, W. X. Cao, P. E. Lim, C. H. Xue, and Q. J. Tang, “A pilot study on anti-obesity mechanisms of Kappaphycus alvarezii: The role of native κ-carrageenan and the leftover sans-carrageenan fraction,” Nutrients, vol. 11, no. 5, p. 1133, 2019.

Categories
Alzheimer's Disease Biosea Health Health Benefits

Seaweed Drug for Alzheimers Disease

Seaweed drug for Alzheimers Disease research

Seaweed drug Alzheimers Disease shows promise

Back in early 2005, researchers noticed seaweed reduces Alzheimers disease in elderly patients and wondered if people who regularly eat seaweed were less likely to develop AD. A formal research program was started in 2009 in China.

By 2019, a new drug,  extracted from seaweed was approved. Clinical trials show effectiveness in treating mild to moderate forms of the disease, and it may even improve cognitive function. The news immediately drew worldwide attention, and suspicion ensued. Is it possible that a discovery coming out of China—whose biotech industry is just taking off—could succeed where seasoned researchers from the likes of Biogen and Eli Lilly have failed miserably?

What We Now Know

  1. The microbiome impacts Alzheimer’s Disease and other inflammatory Diseases
  2. Seaweed may prevent onset either in whole form or in an extract of a particular polysaccharide
  3. Human clinical trials are very promising.
  4. If you are concerned about Alzheimers there is no better time to start seaweed. Treatment of the disease once it has progressed may not be reversible.

What’s the Current Thinking about Alzheimers Disease

Despite the tremendous efforts made in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the past decades have witnessed the continuous failure of β-amyloid (Aβ)- or tau-centric therapeutic strategies in late-stage clinical trials. Only 1 out 200 promising drugs with animals translated to any positive improvements in humans.

There are two promising areas of research and they both involve seaweed. The question is how does seaweed reduces Alzheimers Disease. When researchers talk about AD they often use a term called an axis of Brain-Gut-Microbiota.

The diagram of this “pathway” (from Kowalski and Mulak) is below. Note that it all begins in the gut.

  1. The amyloid beta proteins that are seen in people with dementia are made by the microbiota, the gut nervous system and the brain itself.
  2. What is often seen is leaky gut syndrome, and gut inflammation.
  3. Finally the damage is done in the brain with neuro-degeneration.

Brain gut microbiota pathway

Disturbances of the brain-gut-microbiota axis in Alzheimer’s disease. Disturbances along the brain-gut-microbiota axis, including the central nervous system (CNS) and the enteric nervous system (ENS), contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. The gut microbiota is known to upregulate local and systemic inflammation due to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from pathogenic bacteria and synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines. Alterations in the gut microbiota composition may induce increased permeability of the intestinal barrier and the blood-brain barrier further enhancing inflammation at the gut, systemic and CNS levels. Amyloid beta (Aβ) formation takes place in the ENS and the CNS. In addition, a large amount of amyloids is secreted by the gut microbiota.

Disturbances along the brain-gut-microbiota axis may significantly contribute to the development of neurodegenerative disorders. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia – with progressive decline in cognitive function and formation of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. We know poor gut microbiota composition increase permeability of the gut barrier. This results in an autoimmune reaction. E.g. Immune activation leading to systemic inflammation, which in turn may impair the blood-brain barrier and promote neuroinflammation, neural injury, and ultimately neurodegeneration. It has been shown in inflammatory disease but has been extended to AD.

However, current understanding of the specific mechanism between the gut and brain in AD progression is still very limited. There will be many claims until further research is done. The figure below shows the 3 separate areas of activity, but it remains unknown which types of infiltrated immune cells are functionally involved in AD development. What are the underlying driving forces that promotes peripheral immune cells to infiltrate the brain, leading to the enhancement of the residential neuroinflammation. Moreover, as we discover the importance of microbiota metabolites, researchers will try to find the specific metabolites that are involved in linking gut microbiota and brain neuroinflammation in AD progression.

This work is one of a whole new area of studies that show the dynamic interaction between the intestinal microbiota and host innate and adaptive immune system. If the gut microbiota are abnormal, they could jeopardize host immune responses and promote the development of various inflammatory disorders. Remember that Prof Jan Villadsen in the arthritis and gut inflamatory responses – same type of response and in this blog post. (Arthritis stopped in its tracks)

Antibiotics are Bad

It now appears that antibiotics are bad for AD-associated inflammation. Both animal and human studies show an association between dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and the microglia activation during AD development. Minter et al. discovered that perturbations (upset) in gut microbial diversity influenced neuro-inflammation and amyloidosis. Antibiotics-treated mice showed a significant decrease in plaque-localized microglial activation positive for IBA-1. Besides, gut microbiota-produced lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was found in the post-mortem brain samples of AD patients,and peripheral injection of LPS could promote microglial activation.All the evidence suggests that gut microbiota is likely involved in regulating microglia activation and neuroinflammation in AD. Change that microbiome and there is a cascade of other complications.

Promising GV-971 Drug

The media is full of the work of Geng Meiyu and her team at the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. They suggest that a polysaccharide, oligomannate, a seaweed-derived compound, can reduce AD. The work was supported by Ocean University of China and Green Valley.

Here is Geng Meiyu (bottom left – she worked for 30 years on this.

The Chinese Govt has approved the drug GV-971 which was based on a phase 3 trial involving 818 Chinese patients.

In that study, patients on oligomannate scored better on a standard clinical scale called ADAS-Cog that’s used to evaluate cognitive function in Alzheimer’s patients. ADAS-Cog scores range from zero to 70, and higher scores indicate greater dysfunction

In previous animal studies Geng’s team showed in mice that oligomannate works by modulating gut microbiota and hence inhibiting inflammation in the nervous system, reducing beta amyloid buildup and tau tangles.

According to results Geng presented at last year’s Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease Conference in Barcelona, a statistically significant improvement between the drug and placebo was observed as early as week four and continued over the course of the trial. After 36 weeks, patients in the oligomannate arm had improved their ADAS-Cog scores by a median 2.54 points more than placebo patients.

Seaweed Changes Gut Microbiome

Prof Lindsay Brown of USQ showed in super-sized obese mice they could reverse the changes in microbiome back to normal with Sarconema species seaweed.  This was with Sargassum sp and Laminaria sp It may be that the species is not so important as getting the right microbiome.

What is the Cell Membrane?

Here are two images of the membranes in the gut. There is only a few cells between the gut, and the bloodstream.  If this is not functioning correctly, then the blood says “Whoa.  Nasty bacteria too close”. And starts an autoimmune process.

This simple figure (Minter) shows the intestine as a pipe with a cross section. There is really only 1 layer between health and death.

This gut blood barrier is much more complex.  Here is  simple model which shows some of the dozens of cells identified.

Seaweed Reduces Alzheimers Disease by changing microbiome

Within this are many other processes and involve T-Cells, B-Cells, and range of other immunology pathways.

Proposed Mode of Action of GV-971 Gut Brain Axis

Wang et al in the Nature paper cited below says that this gut blood brain change is what makes the new drug effective. The polysaccharide reconditions the microbiota. The inflammation reduces, and then reduced the nero-inflammation.Alzheimer's gut-brain-axis model for GV-971

The work from The Netherlands by Dr Mulder and others (Bogie et al) in animal studies have seen lipids enter the brain, and this reduces inflammation but also reduced the reduction in the brain size which is also a symptom of Alzheimer’ Disease.

In a separate Nature communication commenting on the drug GV-971 Seo (2019) provides a commentary on the paper on GV-971 and how microbiota influences Alzheimer’s Disease.

Schematic Diagram (from Seo, 2019)

  1. Poor functioning (or dysbiosis) of the gut microbiota alter amino acid metabolism and immunity.
  2. Elevated phenylalanine and isoleucine (Phe/Ile) increase plasma T helper type 1 (Th1) cells
  3. Th1 cells invade through the blood brain barrier.
  4. Get inflammation in the brain
    • Increases pro-inflammatory microglia abundance
    • Get amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition
    • Neurofibrillary tangles (as per research from Europe with Monique Mulder)
  5. Treatment with GV-971 reconditions the gut microbiota and stops progress of Alzheimer’s

Seaweed Reduces Alzheimers Disease with GV971

This mechanism seems to be a consistent finding among Alzheimer’s Disease researchers and why there is continued research on how seaweed reduces Alzheimers disease.

References

CNN News Article  Chinese Alzheimers Drug (Click Here)

Novel Drug Treatment Shows Improved Cognition in a Phase 3 Clinical Trial in Persons with Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease in China. 2018 (News report from Barcelona)

South China News China Approves first new Alzheimers Drug
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3036119/china-approves-oligomannate-worlds-first-new-alzheimers-drug-20

Fierce Pharma China approves a new, home-grown Alzheimer’s drug—and questions immediately follow (Click Here to read more)

Wang, X., Sun, G., Feng, T. et al. 2019 Sodium oligomannate therapeutically remodels gut microbiota and suppresses gut bacterial amino acids-shaped neuroinflammation to inhibit Alzheimer’s disease progression. Cell Res 29, 787–803 (2019) doi:10.1038/s41422-019-0216-x

Bogie, J., Hoeks, C., Schepers, M. et al. Dietary Sargassum fusiforme improves memory and reduces amyloid plaque load in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model. Sci Rep 9, 4908 (2019) doi:10.1038/s41598-019-41399-4

Kowalski K, and Mulak A 2019 Brain-Gut-Microbiota Axis in Alzheimer’s Disease J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2019; 25(1): 48-60 https://doi.org/10.5056/jnm18087

Minter M, Zhang C et al 2016 Antibiotic-induced perturbations in gut microbial diversity influences neuro-inflammation and amyloidosis in a murine model of Alzheimer’s disease. Scientific Reports volume 6, Article number: 30028 https://www.nature.com/articles/srep30028

Garrett, W. S., Gordon, J. I., & Glimcher, L. H. 2010 Homeostasis and inflammation in the intestine. Cell, 140(6), 859–870. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2010.01.023

Seo, D., Boros, B.D. & Holtzman, D.M. The microbiome: A target for Alzheimer disease?. Cell Res 29, 779–780 (2019) doi:10.1038/s41422-019-0227-7

du Preez, R.; Paul, N.; Mouatt, P.; Majzoub, M.E.; Thomas, T.; Panchal, S.K.; Brown, L. Carrageenans from the Red Seaweed Sarconema filiforme Attenuate Symptoms of Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats. Mar. Drugs 2020, 18, 97. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/18/2/97

Commercial Interests

The commercial entity in this new drug is Green Valley.  Green Valley is a pharmaceutical company focusing its primary efforts on developing carbohydrate drugs for patients with complex chronic diseases in areas of central nervous system, cardiovascular, and oncology. Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Shanghai with over 1500 personnel, Green Valley’s business presence in China covers more than 31 provinces/municipals including 2 GMP manufacturing sites and has achieved more than $700 million in revenue in 2018. The company’s product Salvianolate is a top 10 drug for cardiovascular disease in China. The new drug registration application and marketing authorization application for GV-971 has been recently submitted to CFDA for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.  Their website is http://www.greenvalleypharma.com/En