Algae for cardiovascular health?
Author: Last Uchiha
Although their properties depend on the type of algae, recent studies associated with improved cardiovascular health.
Seaweeds are part of the Oriental diet. They are an ingredient of traditional cuisine. In Western countries, however, is common to find in commercial preparations or dry, although the custom of eating themselves as food is scarce.
The nutritional interest, medical and industrial seaweed is its concentrated nutrients. Recent studies have linked its consumption with improved availability of minerals, lipid metabolism, control of blood pressure and cardiovascular health. However, its misuse, especially if taken frequently, may be contraindicated for certain people according to their health or their predisposition.
Concentrated nutrients
In recent years, the algae have grown in importance in the Western market, especially in its use as an ingredient in dietary supplements or functional foods. Its high richness in dietary fiber, high concentration of minerals and vitamins, phytochemicals (antioxidants and phytosterols) and their extra intake of certain polyunsaturated fatty acids, along with his meager energy, makes them an interesting functional foods.
From the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and Department of Nutrition and Food Science at the Complutense University of Madrid (Spain), revised its nutritional characteristics and cardiovascular health properties and it was found that they are a unique source of fatty acids omega 3 high molecular weight (20 or more carbon atoms), the most effective in reducing triglyceride levels and platelet aggregation, and to facilitate the immune response.
They are also a good source of antioxidant compounds though, say the authors, differences in content in both these and the rest of nutrients can be significant for other algae.
The food and pharmaceutical industry has discovered the possibility of developing products with a more healthy, which have among their ingredients algae or its active compounds. Fish oil and soybean oil extraction leading sources of omega 3 (EPA and DHA) in the development of dietary supplements or functional foods “for the care of heart, mind and sight, but they begin to draw from new sources such as seaweed.
The oil from the microalgae “Schizochytrium sp.” Authorized by the European Union for use as novel food ingredients and their content in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is at least 32%. However, the review authors conclude that while the algae known for potential health claims are highly dependent on their individual composition, so that “any generalization about these properties may be considered misleading and scientifically inadequate.”
Anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant
From various national and research institutions in Italy (Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Bio-Oncologia), Russia (Russian Academy of Medical Sciences), UK (Scottish Association for Marine Sciences) and Argentina (Division of Immunogenetics Clinical Hospital José de San Martin in Buenos Aires) was made a comparative study of the functional activities fucoidans, parts of nine different species of brown seaweeds.
The authors found both in vitro and in experimental animals, the anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant and antiadhesive of fucoidans from the various algae, although with significant differences depending on the origin of active ingredients. Heparin is a type of fucoidan (a kind of fucose, a carbohydrate) which recognizes its anticoagulant action. This natural substance in the blood interferes with the action of thrombin, an enzyme that plays an important role in the formation of blood clot.
The fucoidans were divided into groups according to their anticoagulant activity. The anticoagulants were the most active of the seaweed Laminaria saccharina, “” Laminaria digitata “,” Fucus distichus “and” Fucus serratus “whose activity exceeded 19 units per milligram of heparin (19 U / mg). The second group consisted of the fucoidans of “Fucus evanescens”, “F. spiralis “and” F. vesiculosus, which showed almost half of the previous activity.
According to investigators, the results of this study provide new insights for the development of dietary supplements and drugs with potential effects to prevent thrombosis and inflammation of the arteries and thus preventing cardiovascular risk.
Misuse
In recent years, the algae are used as an ingredient in dietary supplements for different purposes. However, not everyone is sufficiently documented, including that linked to weight loss without clear scientific evidence. Mainly as a dietary supplement, its use can have negative consequences, given the concentration of its components. People who frequently consume algae or supplements rich in these thyroid problems can develop if you are predisposed to these disorders due to iodine wealth of most of them.
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