Bladderwrack
health benefits, side effects, nutritional values and research finds      
Bladderwrack [Bladder Wrack, Fucus vesiculosus, related to Kelp]

Bladderwrack (Bladder Wrack, Fucus vesiculosus) is a rockweed or seaweed having forked,
brownish-green branches with gas-filled bladders. [The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English
Language, Fourth Edition].

Bladderwrack (Bladder Wrack) can be found on the coasts of the North Sea, the western Baltic Sea,
 the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and it  is also a common food in Japan.
RESEARCH FINDINGS -POTENTIAL HEALTH  BENEFITS OF
BLADDERWRACK

HYPOTHYROIDISM Bladderwrack (Bladder Wrack)  contains a large
amount of iodine, thus some people use bladderwrack as supplement
for hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) [Newall C, Anderson, LA,
Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-Care Professionals. London,
England: Pharmaceutical Press; 1996]

HEARTBURN Bladderwrack (Bladder Wrack)  may help heartburn.
[Newall C, Anderson, LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-Care
Professionals. London, England: Pharmaceutical Press; 1996.]

ATHEROSCLEROSIS & IMMUNITY Bladderwrack (Bladder Wrack)  may
help atherosclerosis and strengthen immunity. [Criado MT, Ferreiros CM.
Immunomodulatory effect produced in mice by a complex-carbohydrate specific
lectin-like mucopolysaccharide from Fucus vesiculosus. IRCS J Med Sci. 1983;11:
286–287. Newall C, Anderson, LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for
Health-Care Professionals. London, England: Pharmaceutical Press; 1996.]

ANTIOXIDATION Ruperez P et al at boiled Bladderwrack (Bladder
Wrack)  at different pHs. They found that the one boiled in acid showed
the highest potential to be antioxidant. [J Agric Food Chem. 2002 Feb 13;50
(4):840-5].

CANCER Three pre-menopausal women abnormal menstrual cycling
patterns with were fed with bladderwrack. A significant increase in
menstrual cycle lengths and an anti-estrogenic and progestagenic
effects were observed. Thus, seaweed consumption may reduce the
risk of estrogen-related cancers. [Skibola CFBMC Complement Altern Med.
2004 Aug 04;4(1):10.Skibola Brown kelp modulates endocrine hormones in
female sprague-dawley rats and in human luteinized granulosa cells. J Nutr.
2005 Feb;135(2):296-300]

ANTI-AGING Bladderwrack (Bladder Wrack)  extract containing
fucoidan was found to promote fibroblast-populated collagen gel
contraction by increasing the integrin alpha2beta1 expression on
fibroblast surface.. [Fujimura T el al Biol Pharm Bull. 2000 Oct;23(10):1180-4].


A significant decrease in skin thickness and a significant improvement in
elasticity were found when a Bladderwrack (Bladder Wrack)  gel (1%)
topically onto human cheek skin twice daily for five weeks. [J Cosmet
Sci. 2002 Jan-Feb; 53 (1): 1-9].

DOSE OF BLADDERWRACK

It is important not to take Bladderwrack (Bladder Wrack)  in dosages
providing more than the recommended daily intake of iodine.

SAFETY / SIDE EFFECTS / TOXIC EFFECTS

Iodine can help only for the type of hypothyroidism caused by iodine
deficiency. If your iodine levels are not low, taking extra amounts of
iodine may lead to hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Please, also
understand that levels of iodine can vary widely among Bladderwrack
(Bladder Wrack)   products. [Norman JA, Pickford CJ, Sanders TW, et al.
Human intake of arsenic and iodine from seaweed-based food supplements and
health foods available in the UK. Food Addit Contam. 1987;5:103–109.]

Bladderwrack (Bladder Wrack)  preparations may worsen acne and
decrease iron absorption. [Harrell BL, Rudolph AH. Kelp diet: a cause of
acneiform eruption [letter]. Arch Dermatol. 1976;112:560].

Finally, Bladderwrack (Bladder Wrack)  , like other sea plants, can
concentrate toxic heavy metals such as arsenic from the surrounding
sea water. One case of kidney failure was reported, because the
Bladderwrack (Bladder Wrack) product used contained a high heavy
metal content. [Walkiw O, Douglas DE. Health food supplements prepared
from kelp—a source of elevated urinary arsenic [letter]. Can Med Assoc J. 1974;
111:1301–1302, Walkiw O, Douglas DE. Health food supplements prepared
from kelp—a source of elevated urinary arsenic. Clin Toxicol. 1975;8:325–
331, Conz PA, La Greca G, Benedetti P, et al. Fucus vesiculosus: a nephrotoxic
alga? Nephrol Dial Transplant. 1998;13:526-527] Breast Cancer Prevention From
The Sea, HealthDay, February 3, 2005

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

ANTI-CANCER Japanese researchers (Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack, L.L.
P.) are developing apoptosis inducers, anticancer drugs containing
sulfated-fucose-containing polysaccharide(s) from Bladderwrack
(Bladder Wrack) . [Apoptosis inducers, Patent Application No. 20010034335
A1, October 25, 2001]

SKIN AGING / CARE Another Japanese group (Birch Stewart Kolasch &
Birch) is developing a composition containing Bladderwrack (Bladder
Wrack)   to prevent skin aging, ameliorate sensitive skin etc. They
found that the Fucus vesiculosus (Bladderwrack) extract might help hair
restoring in a study of mice. [Cosmetics, Patent Application No.
20030039670, February 27, 2003]

Mc Laughlin and James Hugh developed an emollient skin conditioning
cream using  Bladderwrack (Bladder Wrack) as the major ingredient .
[Emollient skin conditioning cream and method, patent application 20030133900
A1,July 17, 2003].

Chiarelli, Joseph A.; et al. applied Bladderwrack (Bladder Wrack)   in
their facial moisturizer [Example six, Personal care compositions containing
inverse emulsion polymers, patent application 20030147825, August 7, 2003]

CLEANSING AGENT Mumoli, Jose Alejandro suggested to apply
Bladderwrack (Bladder Wrack)   as a phyto-therapeutic extract together
with two disintegrating agents as a single-dose quick dissolving
cleansing agent. [Single-dose quick-dissolving cleansing agent with medicinal
properties, patent application 20030153482, August 14, 2003]

ANTIOXIDANTLarkins, Nicholas J. is developing a composition
consisting of a Platelet Activating Factor (PAF) Inhibitor and (b) an
antioxidant. This composition may contain Fucus vesiculosus
(Bladderwrack) [Example 1, Preparation for the relief of disease, patent
application 20040022879, February 5, 2004]

CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDER AND DIABETES Daniels, Bruce Alan [Ali
Kamarei, Esq.] is developing a method and composition probably
containing Bladderwrack (Bladder Wrack)   as the brown algae to retard
cardiovascular disorder. [Seaweed extract composition for retardation of
cardiovascular disorders and preservation of healthy cardiovascular function,
patent application 20040170645, September 2, 2004].

Daniels, Bruce Alan [Ali Kamarei, Esq.] is also developing a method and
composition probably containing Bladderwrack (Bladder Wrack)   as the
brown algae to prevent or treat Type II Diabetes Mellitus. [Seaweed
extract composition for treatment of diabetes and diabetic complications, patent
application 20040208893, October 21, 2004].

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What are the nutrition values and health benefits of Bladderwrack? Bladderwrack is a rich
source of mucilage, algin, mannitol, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, iodine, bromine, potassium,
volatile oils, and many other minerals. In addition, bladderwrack may have health benefits
on skin condition and other conditions.