Bladderwrack, also known as Fucus vesiculosus, is a seaweed found on coasts around the world. It was the first source of iodine in 1811 and has since been used to treat conditions such as thyroid problems and weight loss. Scientists are now discovering that bladderwrack has potential for helping to prevent and treat other conditions in the body and to promote overall health.
Antioxidant
Bladderwrack was one of several plants tested at the School of Life Sciences, Kingston University, London, for its anti-aging and anti-oxidant properties. Of the 21 plants studied, bladderwrack ranked the second highest (behind white tea) in its ability to attack enzymes such elastase and collagenase that are commonly released during inflammation.
Cancer
Bladderwrack contains fucoidan, a type of dietary fiber filled with numerous sulfur groups. A study in South Korea looking at the anti-tumor effects of fucoidan extracted from bladderwrack found that it markedly inhibited the growth of cells of HCT-15, human colon carcinoma cells.
Cholesterol
Fucoidan from bladderwrack also has been tested a means to lower cholesterol. A study in Spain found that in the short term, laboratory animals fed the extract had significantly lowered total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, unhealthy LDL, cholesterol levels and a significantly increased antiatherogenic index, or protection against the formation of plaques in arteries. Longer-term results showed slightly fewer effects on total cholesterol and LDL, but effectiveness at increasing beneficial HDL cholesterol as well as the antiatherogenic index.
Diabetes
Several seaweed extracts including Fucus vesiculosus were administered orally to normal laboratory animals to test the effects on blood sugar levels, as reported in a study published in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" in 1989. The scientists observed a significant reduction in blood glucose eight hours after intravenous administration, with glycemia lowered 18 percent in normal rabbits and 50 percent in animals with insulin-dependent diabetes.
Estrogen
A study at the Molecular Epidemiology and Toxicology Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley studied the effects of bladderwrack on premenopausal women. It found that dietary bladderwrack may prolong the length of the menstrual cycle and reduce estrogen levels in the body. The researchers concluded that the consumption of bladderwrack, along with soy, may be responsible for the reduced risk of estrogen-related cancers in Japanese populations.
Skin
A topical extract of bladderwrack was used by researchers in Japan who found that it decreased skin thickness and increased the skin's elasticity. This holds promise for use in cosmetics because the aging process leads to the oppose: increased skin thickness and less elasticity. Also, a report published in the June 2005 edition of the journal "Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medicine" showed how folk healers among the Chumash people treat lower leg edema with Fucus vesiculosus wrapped around the leg. The report concluded that the kelp's phytosterols were responsible for helping with water resorption in the kidneys, decreasing decrease edema.
Thyroid
Bladderwrack has high concentrations of iodine, one reason it's often used to treat underactive thyroid conditions. But higher doses above the daily recommended 150 micrograms of iodine can actually lead to hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, and make existing hyperthyroidism worse, according to the Merck Manual.
References
- BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Effect of Fucus Vesiculosus Upon Menstrual Cycle
- BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Anti-collagenase, Anti-elastase and Anti-oxidant Activities of Extracts from 21 Plants
- Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin: Apoptosis Inducing Activity of Fucoidan in HCT-15 Colon Carcinoma Cells
- Phytotherapy Research: Hypolipidaemic Activity of a Polysaccharide Extract from Fucus vesiculosus L.
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology: Hypoglycemic Activity of Several Seaweed Extracts
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