Brown Seaweed (wakame)
Health Benefits and Side Effects
Health Benefits and Side Effects
We all probably know that brown seaweed (wakame) is good source of magnesium and zinc.
[A6]
A recent news report that brown seaweed, also known as wakame, Brown kelp, Undaria pinnatifida -- commonly used
to flavor Asian soups and salads, contains a compound called fucoxanthin that promotes weight loss. Fucoxanthin is
found at high concentrations in several different types of brown seaweed. But it is absent in green and red seaweeds.
Brown kelp is a key ingredient of Japanese miso soup. But the researchers said drinking large quantities of the soup
has a little effect on weight loss. [1,2]
Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is usually expressed only in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and a key
molecule for metabolic thermogenesis to avoid an excess of fat accumulation. However, there is little BAT in adult
humans. Therefore, UCP1 expression in tissues other than BAT is expected to reduce abdominal fat. In a study, Dr.
Kazuo Miyashita from Hokkaido University show reduction of abdominal white adipose tissue (WAT) weights in rats
and mice by feeding lipids from edible brown seaweed (or brown kelp or Undaria pinnatifida). [3]
Fucoxanthin induces expression of the fat-burning protein UCP1 that accumulates in fat tissue around the internal
organs and adipose tissue responsible for the thickening of the girth dubbed "middle-age spread". Research has
shown that excess amounts of fat around the midriff are particularly linked to heart disease and diabetes. UCP1 fuels
the oxidation of fatty acids and production of heat energy in fat tissue mitochondria. Mice fed fucoxanthin showed clear
signs of UCP1 expression in fat tissue, compared to controls. [1-3]
Dr. Kazuo Miyashita also found that fucoxanthin has "strong" anti-diabetes effects by promoting the docosahexaenoic
acid (DHA) production in the liver. DHA is an important ingredient in fish oil supplement. It is believed that DHA can
help cut levels of "bad" cholesterol associated with obesity and heart disease. [1,2] A study of rats in 2002 has shown
that simultaneous consumption of fish (fish oil) and brown seaweeds decreases the concentration of triacylglycerol in
the serum and liver. [4]
In the study, Dr. Miyashita found no adverse side effects in the animals.
Prior studies demonstrated its potential health benefits on cancer. Flucoxanthin helps promote the death of human
prostate cancer cells in culture.
What are other potential health benefits of brown kelp?
Brown seaweed (brown kelp) benefits hyperlipidemia in animal studies.
Researchers from National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Japan, fed rats in different proportions of dried
powder of the brown seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida (wakame). They found that serum and liver triacylglycerol levels in
rats fed diets in which wakame constituted at least 2% were significantly lower than those in rats fed the control diet
after the 21-d feeding period. [A3]
Brown seaweed (brown kelp) may benefit Herpes infections.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections were found to have low reactivation rates and Herpes type 2 (HSV-2)
infections have lower incidence in Japan than in the west. Australian researchers fed 21 patients with either active or
latent Herpetic infections (HSV-1, 2, EBV, Zoster) with brown seeweed extracts. They found that ingestion of these
brown seeweed extracts was associated with increased healing rates in patients with active infections. It is interesting
to know if the benefit of this extract can be extended to other infections. [I1]
The major component of an aqueous extract of the seaweed Undaria pinnati fi da has been identified previously as a
galactofucan (GFS), a sulfated polysaccharide. Researchers from The University of Chicago showed that the mode of
action of the GFS against herpes simplex virus to be the inhibition of viral binding and entry into the host cell in an in
vitro study. [i2]
Brown seaweed (brown kelp) may benefit hypertension.
Researchers isolated a few tetrapeptides from wakame (brown seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida) and determined their
blood-pressure lowering activities in hypertensive rats. They noted the blood pressure significantly decreased after
tetrapeptide ingestion. [A1] In other studies, researchers identified angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory
peptides. Among these peptides, Val-Tyr, Ile-Tyr, Phe-Tyr, Tyr-His, Lys-Tyr, and Ile-Trp, decreased the blood pressure
significantly in spontaneously hypertensive rats. [A2, A4]
Japanese researchers further suggest that brown seaweed (wakame) may have a beneficial effect on
cerebrovascular diseases in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats, independent of hypertension. It is
possible that fucoxanthin in Wakame may have a preventive effect against ischaemic neuronal cell death seen in
stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats with stroke. [A5]
Brown seaweed extracts showed benefits in cancer in a study of mice.
Japanese researchers showed that fucoidan, extracted from dietary seaweed, could inhibit tumor growth in a mice
study. They found that Fucoidan significantly enhanced the cytolytic activity of NK cells and increased the amount of
IFN-gamma produced by T cells up to about 2-fold compared with non-treated mice. [T1]
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR.
ANY SEA PRODUCT MAY BE CONTAMINATED WITH HEAVY METALS. MOST RESEARCH STUDIES WERE DONE IN ANIMALS. SIDE
EFFECTS AND EFFICACIES OF BROWN SEAWEEDS IN HUMAN ARE UNKNOWN. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2006 ZHION.
Reference: [1] Anti-obesity compound found in brown seaweed 232nd American Chemical Society National Meeting in San Francisco
Reuters Mon Sep 11, 2006. Anti-obesity compound found in brown seaweed BBC, Sep 11, 2006. [3] Maeda H, et al, Fucoxanthin from
edible seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida, shows antiobesity effect through UCP1 expression in white adipose tissues. Biochem Biophys Res
Commun. 2005 Jul 1;332(2):392-7. [4] Murata M, et al, Dietary fish oil and Undaria pinnatifida (wakame) synergistically decrease rat
serum and liver triacylglycerol. J Nutr. 2002 Apr;132(4):742-7. [T1] Maruyama H, et al, Antitumor activity and immune response of
Mekabu fucoidan extracted from Sporophyll of Undaria pinnatifida. In Vivo. 2003 May-Jun;17(3):245-9. [A1] Suetsuna K, et al,
Identification of an antihypertensive peptide from peptic digest of wakame (Undaria pinnatifida). J Nutr Biochem. 2000 Sep;11(9):450-4.
[A2] Sato M, et al, Angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides derived from wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) and their
antihypertensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Oct 9;50(21):6245-52. [I1] Cooper R, GFS, a
preparation of Tasmanian Undaria pinnatifida is associated with healing and inhibition of reactivation of Herpes. BMC Complement
Altern Med. 2002 Nov 20;2:11. Epub 2002 Nov 20. [i2] Thompson KD, et al, Antiviral activity of Undaria pinnatifida against herpes
simplex virus. Phytother Res. 2004 Jul;18(7):551-5. [A3] Murata M, et al, Hepatic fatty acid oxidation enzyme activities are stimulated in
rats fed the brown seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida (wakame). J Nutr. 1999 Jan;129(1):146-51. [A4] Suetsuna K, et al, Antihypertensive
effects of Undaria pinnatifida (wakame) peptide on blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Nutr Biochem. 2004
May;15(5):267-72. Ikeda K,et al, . Effect of Undaria pinnatifida (Wakame) on the development of cerebrovascular diseases in
stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2003 Jan-Feb;30(1-2):44-8. [A6] Ito S, Miyoshi T.
[Determination of Mg and Zn contents of Naruto "wakame" (Undaria pinnatifida)] Nippon Eiseigaku Zasshi. 1990 Aug;45(3):795-800.
[A6]
A recent news report that brown seaweed, also known as wakame, Brown kelp, Undaria pinnatifida -- commonly used
to flavor Asian soups and salads, contains a compound called fucoxanthin that promotes weight loss. Fucoxanthin is
found at high concentrations in several different types of brown seaweed. But it is absent in green and red seaweeds.
Brown kelp is a key ingredient of Japanese miso soup. But the researchers said drinking large quantities of the soup
has a little effect on weight loss. [1,2]
Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is usually expressed only in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and a key
molecule for metabolic thermogenesis to avoid an excess of fat accumulation. However, there is little BAT in adult
humans. Therefore, UCP1 expression in tissues other than BAT is expected to reduce abdominal fat. In a study, Dr.
Kazuo Miyashita from Hokkaido University show reduction of abdominal white adipose tissue (WAT) weights in rats
and mice by feeding lipids from edible brown seaweed (or brown kelp or Undaria pinnatifida). [3]
Fucoxanthin induces expression of the fat-burning protein UCP1 that accumulates in fat tissue around the internal
organs and adipose tissue responsible for the thickening of the girth dubbed "middle-age spread". Research has
shown that excess amounts of fat around the midriff are particularly linked to heart disease and diabetes. UCP1 fuels
the oxidation of fatty acids and production of heat energy in fat tissue mitochondria. Mice fed fucoxanthin showed clear
signs of UCP1 expression in fat tissue, compared to controls. [1-3]
Dr. Kazuo Miyashita also found that fucoxanthin has "strong" anti-diabetes effects by promoting the docosahexaenoic
acid (DHA) production in the liver. DHA is an important ingredient in fish oil supplement. It is believed that DHA can
help cut levels of "bad" cholesterol associated with obesity and heart disease. [1,2] A study of rats in 2002 has shown
that simultaneous consumption of fish (fish oil) and brown seaweeds decreases the concentration of triacylglycerol in
the serum and liver. [4]
In the study, Dr. Miyashita found no adverse side effects in the animals.
Prior studies demonstrated its potential health benefits on cancer. Flucoxanthin helps promote the death of human
prostate cancer cells in culture.
What are other potential health benefits of brown kelp?
Brown seaweed (brown kelp) benefits hyperlipidemia in animal studies.
Researchers from National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Japan, fed rats in different proportions of dried
powder of the brown seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida (wakame). They found that serum and liver triacylglycerol levels in
rats fed diets in which wakame constituted at least 2% were significantly lower than those in rats fed the control diet
after the 21-d feeding period. [A3]
Brown seaweed (brown kelp) may benefit Herpes infections.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections were found to have low reactivation rates and Herpes type 2 (HSV-2)
infections have lower incidence in Japan than in the west. Australian researchers fed 21 patients with either active or
latent Herpetic infections (HSV-1, 2, EBV, Zoster) with brown seeweed extracts. They found that ingestion of these
brown seeweed extracts was associated with increased healing rates in patients with active infections. It is interesting
to know if the benefit of this extract can be extended to other infections. [I1]
The major component of an aqueous extract of the seaweed Undaria pinnati fi da has been identified previously as a
galactofucan (GFS), a sulfated polysaccharide. Researchers from The University of Chicago showed that the mode of
action of the GFS against herpes simplex virus to be the inhibition of viral binding and entry into the host cell in an in
vitro study. [i2]
Brown seaweed (brown kelp) may benefit hypertension.
Researchers isolated a few tetrapeptides from wakame (brown seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida) and determined their
blood-pressure lowering activities in hypertensive rats. They noted the blood pressure significantly decreased after
tetrapeptide ingestion. [A1] In other studies, researchers identified angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory
peptides. Among these peptides, Val-Tyr, Ile-Tyr, Phe-Tyr, Tyr-His, Lys-Tyr, and Ile-Trp, decreased the blood pressure
significantly in spontaneously hypertensive rats. [A2, A4]
Japanese researchers further suggest that brown seaweed (wakame) may have a beneficial effect on
cerebrovascular diseases in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats, independent of hypertension. It is
possible that fucoxanthin in Wakame may have a preventive effect against ischaemic neuronal cell death seen in
stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats with stroke. [A5]
Brown seaweed extracts showed benefits in cancer in a study of mice.
Japanese researchers showed that fucoidan, extracted from dietary seaweed, could inhibit tumor growth in a mice
study. They found that Fucoidan significantly enhanced the cytolytic activity of NK cells and increased the amount of
IFN-gamma produced by T cells up to about 2-fold compared with non-treated mice. [T1]
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR.
ANY SEA PRODUCT MAY BE CONTAMINATED WITH HEAVY METALS. MOST RESEARCH STUDIES WERE DONE IN ANIMALS. SIDE
EFFECTS AND EFFICACIES OF BROWN SEAWEEDS IN HUMAN ARE UNKNOWN. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2006 ZHION.
Reference: [1] Anti-obesity compound found in brown seaweed 232nd American Chemical Society National Meeting in San Francisco
Reuters Mon Sep 11, 2006. Anti-obesity compound found in brown seaweed BBC, Sep 11, 2006. [3] Maeda H, et al, Fucoxanthin from
edible seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida, shows antiobesity effect through UCP1 expression in white adipose tissues. Biochem Biophys Res
Commun. 2005 Jul 1;332(2):392-7. [4] Murata M, et al, Dietary fish oil and Undaria pinnatifida (wakame) synergistically decrease rat
serum and liver triacylglycerol. J Nutr. 2002 Apr;132(4):742-7. [T1] Maruyama H, et al, Antitumor activity and immune response of
Mekabu fucoidan extracted from Sporophyll of Undaria pinnatifida. In Vivo. 2003 May-Jun;17(3):245-9. [A1] Suetsuna K, et al,
Identification of an antihypertensive peptide from peptic digest of wakame (Undaria pinnatifida). J Nutr Biochem. 2000 Sep;11(9):450-4.
[A2] Sato M, et al, Angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides derived from wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) and their
antihypertensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Oct 9;50(21):6245-52. [I1] Cooper R, GFS, a
preparation of Tasmanian Undaria pinnatifida is associated with healing and inhibition of reactivation of Herpes. BMC Complement
Altern Med. 2002 Nov 20;2:11. Epub 2002 Nov 20. [i2] Thompson KD, et al, Antiviral activity of Undaria pinnatifida against herpes
simplex virus. Phytother Res. 2004 Jul;18(7):551-5. [A3] Murata M, et al, Hepatic fatty acid oxidation enzyme activities are stimulated in
rats fed the brown seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida (wakame). J Nutr. 1999 Jan;129(1):146-51. [A4] Suetsuna K, et al, Antihypertensive
effects of Undaria pinnatifida (wakame) peptide on blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Nutr Biochem. 2004
May;15(5):267-72. Ikeda K,et al, . Effect of Undaria pinnatifida (Wakame) on the development of cerebrovascular diseases in
stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2003 Jan-Feb;30(1-2):44-8. [A6] Ito S, Miyoshi T.
[Determination of Mg and Zn contents of Naruto "wakame" (Undaria pinnatifida)] Nippon Eiseigaku Zasshi. 1990 Aug;45(3):795-800.
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Discuss with your doctor before taking any alternative medicine. This article is for
reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
reference only, it is not a medical advice. All rights reserved. Do not copy this article to
other website or blog.
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