Cardiovascular
(see also above under Blood pressure and below under Circulation, Cholesterol, and Diabetes)
The polysaccharides in brown seaweed have been shown to offer several useful mechanisms in addressing coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disorders, atherosclerosis, as well as cancerogenesis and cancer metastasis (see above under Cancer): the inhibition of smooth muscle cell proliferation (monoclonal hyperplasia) which is an important step in atherogenesis (68, 69, 72); the reduction of high blood sugar and triglyceride levels, and activation of enzymes involved in the beta-oxidatuion of fatty acids which can be useful in the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia (71); an inhibitory effect on the generation of thrombin (61); the hypertensive effect of its special range of polysaccharides including laminin; hypotensive effects may be due to laminine doxalate (114).
In hypertensive patients supplemented with iodine to the level of ‘whole body sufficiency’, normalization of blood pressure without medications was achieved in small scale tests measuring various effects of significant iodine supplementation, and similar observations were reported by other physicians using the same programme. The best results were achieved when orthoiodosupplementation was combined with a complete nutritional programme emphasising magnesium instead of calcium, with no significant side effects (118, 122 p60).
The polysaccharides have been shown to ‘mimic’ heparin, exhibiting the same anticoagulant activity (65, 66, 67) and a higher antiproliferative activity (70). Its anticoagulant activity chiefly relates to the breakdown of fats in the blood, but Seagreens® should not be considered an alternative to heparin (a short term remedial drug) or warfarin (a long term maintenance drug) although it is entirely compatible with these and may assist their effectiveness. There are no contra-indications for using Seagreens® as there are, for example, with aspirin in conjunction with these drugs.
Other research also indicates that the fucoidan fraction in Wrack seaweed possesses anticoagulant activity (145) and fibrinolytic properties (146).
It was discovered that when stroke-prone rats were overfed salt, only those also fed seaweed powder did not have strokes; the seaweed was an antidote to excess sodium consumption (27). Several components of brown seaweeds have been shown to have cardiotonic value. Fatty acids found in kelp stimulated heart muscle, while a histamine compound accelerated contractions of the atrium (histamine and iodine content of nekombu (a Japanese wrack) were 501mg/kg and 3200mg.kg respectively, indicating that 36% of the total iodine was in the salt form of histamine). Researchers found an extract from Undaria pinnatifida seaweed increased the contractile force of the atria.
Much of the research highlights the involvement of the polysaccharide fucoidan which may comprise 4% of brown seaweed polysaccharides (62, 72). It is believed in some quarters that the high intake of brown seaweed in the Japanese diet may be a factor in their relatively low incidence of heart disease and cancer death, although many other dietary norms pertain, absent in the West.
The largest scientific study of its kind, reported in February 2006, found that “People who eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day are 26% less likely to suffer a stroke than those who only eat 3” (100).
Iodine, of which Seagreens® is an ideal natural source, may also play a significant role in cardiac function. It has been shown that optimal ‘whole body’ levels of inorganic, non-radioactive iodine results in “optimal cardiac functions” (120).