Can You Strengthen Your Immunity with Seaweed?

By VRP Staff

When you think of all-natural sources of strengthened immunity, virus protection or improved cardiovascular health, brown seaweed is probably the last natural dietary supplement that would spring to mind. But believe it or not, this marine vegetable has recently earned a respected place in the supplement market, thanks to one powerful constituent that comes with all the benefits listed above… not to mention a few extra.

That multi-talented compound is fucoidan—a sulfated polysaccharide that’s been proven surprisingly supportive in a wide range of health concerns. Fucoidan’s most prominent mode of action: Its unique ability to support your immune system—shielding your body from viruses and even abnormal cell growth in the colon.^1-4 As a testament to fucoidan’s immune-enhancing activity, in animal and in vitro studies it provided significant protection against immune deficiency.^2,5

Fucoidan’s immune benefits are thought to be due to its enhancement of infection-fighting cytokines and immune cells. Fucoidan supplementation stimulates production of granzyme A (GzmA), which in turn is believed to trigger the production of the immune-regulating proteins known as cytokines.⁶

This supports a number of other studies, which have confirmed this natural compound’s ability to prevent abnormal cell overgrowth and induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in experimental models.⁴

But that’s not all fucoidan can do. It also has a unique ability to support heart health. Fucoidan blocks selectins, cell receptors important in the adhesion of white blood cells known as leukocytes to capillary walls. When leukocytes adhere to the blood vessel walls, it can lead to tissue damage, ultimately resulting in atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Acting as a selectin blocker, fucoidan can stop the migration of leukocytes into blood vessel walls.⁷ This compound wears more than one heart protective hat, though, since it’s also a natural blood thinner.⁸

The benefits of this multi-talented substance also extend to women’s health. Fucoidan has helped to balance female hormones in animal studies, and emerging research in humans indicated it can extend menstrual cycle length and improve hormonal status in premenopausal women. Researchers continue to explore the possibility fucoidan may balance hormones and improve female-specific health.^9-10

Luckily, you don’t have to go deep sea diving to get your own supply of this valuable natural compound. Vitamin Research Products offers some of the highest quality fucoidan you can find—collected from clean Nova Scotian waters by means of an environmentally friendly harvesting process—in the form of an organic, contaminant-free extract that’s safe for daily use.

References:

1. Kim MH, Joo HG. Immunostimulatory effects of fucoidan on bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. Immunol Lett. 2008 Jan 29;115(2):138-43.
2. Béress A, Wassermann O, Tahhan S, Bruhn T, Béress L, Kraiselburd EN, Gonzalez LV, de Motta GE, Chavez PI. A new procedure for the isolation of anti-HIV compounds (polysaccharides and polyphenols) from the marine alga Fucus vesiculosus. J Nat Prod. 1993 Apr;56(4):478-88.
3. Parys S, Kehraus S, Krick A, Glombitza KW, Carmeli S, Klimo K, Gerhäuser C, König GM. In vitro chemopreventive potential of fucophlorethols from the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus L. by anti-oxidant activity and inhibition of selected cytochrome P450 enzymes. Phytochemistry. 2010 Feb;71(2-3):221-9.
4. Hyun JH, Kim SC, Kang JI, Kim MK, Boo HJ, Kwon JM, Koh YS, Hyun JW, Park DB, Yoo ES, Kang HK. Apoptosis inducing activity of fucoidan in HCT-15 colon carcinoma cells. Biol Pharm Bull. 2009 Oct;32(10):1760-4.
5. Queiroz KC, Medeiros VP, Queiroz LS, Abreu LR, Rocha HA, Ferreira CV, Jucá MB, Aoyama H, Leite EL. Inhibition of reverse transcriptase activity of HIV by polysaccharides of brown algae. Biomed Pharmacother. 2008 Jun;62(5):303-7.
6. Hirayasu H, Yoshikawa Y, Tsuzuki S, Fushiki T. Sulfated polysaccharides derived from dietary seaweeds increase the esterase activity of a lymphocyte tryptase, granzyme A. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2005 Dec;51(6):475-7.
7. Patankar MS, Oehninger S, Barnett T, Williams RL, Clark GF. A revised structure for fucoidan may explain some of its biological activities. J Biol Chem. 1993 Oct 15;268(29):21770-6.
8. Dürig J, Bruhn T, Zurborn KH, Gutensohn K, Bruhn HD, Béress L. Anticoagulant fucoidan fractions from Fucus vesiculosus induce platelet activation in vitro. Thromb Res. 1997 Mar 15;85(6):479-91.
9. Skibola CF, Curry JD, VandeVoort C, Conley A, Smith MT. Brown kelp modulates endocrine hormones in female sprague-dawley rats and in human luteinized granulosa cells. J Nutr. 2005 Feb;135(2):296-300.
10. Skibola CF. The effect of Fucus vesiculosus, an edible brown seaweed, upon menstrual cycle length and hormonal status in three pre-menopausal women: a case report. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2004 Aug 4;4:10.