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The effect of seaweed derived polyphenols on inflammation and oxidative stress in vivo - The SWAFAX study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 September 2014

F. R. Baldrick ,
C. Sung ,
K. McFadden ,
M. Ibars ,
K. Megarry ,
S. Hotchkiss ,
J. M. W. Wallace  and
C. I. R. Gill
F. R. Baldrick
Affiliation:
Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, UK
C. Sung
Affiliation:
Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, UK
K. McFadden
Affiliation:
Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, UK
M. Ibars
Affiliation:
Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, UK
K. Megarry
Affiliation:
Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, UK
S. Hotchkiss
Affiliation:
CybercolloidsLtd., Carrigaline Industrial Estate, Carrigaline, County Cork, Ireland
J. M. W. Wallace
Affiliation:
Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, UK
C. I. R. Gill
Affiliation:
Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, BT52 1SA, UK
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Abstract

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Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 73 , Issue OCE2: Irish Section Meeting, 18–20 June 2014, Changing Dietary Behaviour: Physiology Through to Practice , 2014 , E86
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2014 

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is currently the leading cause of death worldwide( 1 ). Epidemiological evidence has shown a positive effect of polyphenol intake on CVD risk( Reference Arts and Hollman 2 ). Seaweed is a rich source of polyphenolic compounds, which can comprise 5 to 15% of the dried weight( Reference Ragan and Jensen 3 ). Some studies suggest that the potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of seaweed-derived polyphenols may yield highly bioactive components with commercial potential for food and pharma applications( Reference Scalbert, Manach, Morand, Resmesy and Jimenez 4 ). The aim of this randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover design study was to investigate the biological activity of a food grade seaweed polyphenol extract (CEVA, France) in terms of reducing oxidative damage to DNA, modulation of inflammatory responses and reduction on chronic, low level inflammation in vivo.

Volunteers were randomised to receive either a capsule containing 100 mg seaweed extract or a matched placebo daily for an 8 week period, with an 8 week washout period between each treatment. Fasting blood and urine samples were taken from each volunteer at 4 time-points during the study, at baseline and completion of the 2 treatment phases.

80 apparently healthy volunteers (42·7 (SD 7·1) years, BMI 30·2(SD 3·9) kg/m2) were recruited onto the study for 24 weeks; n = 78 completed both treatment periods. Blood and urine samples were analysed for an array of outcome measures including DNA damage to lymphocytes (Comet assay), intracellular cytokine activity (flow cytometer) (in preparation), C-reactive protein (CRP), triglycerides and isoprostane levels.

1Outliers removed s51, s16; 2Analysis performed on n = 40 only; 3Values are mean (SD); NS = not significant.

There were no significant changes in either the placebo or seaweed treatment group for any of the parameters measured. However, there was a 31% decrease in CRP, although this did not reach statistical significance. The inflammatory markers are yet to be analysed but may provide additional information on the anti-inflammatory potential of a range of novel seaweed extracts that could be further exploited.

This work is funded by the European Commission under the Capacities Programme (FP7) (no. 262519).

References

1. Causes of death 2008, World Health Organization, Geneva http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/cod_2008_sources_methods.Pdf Google Scholar
2. Arts, CW & Hollman, PCH. (2005) Polyphenols and disease risk in epidemiologic studies. Am J ClinNutr 81:317S–325S.Google ScholarPubMed
3. Ragan, MA & Jensen, A. (1978) Quantitative studies on brown algal phenols. II. Seasonal variation in polyphenol content of Ascophyllumnodosum and Fucusvesiculosus . J Exp Marine Biol&Ecol 34(3):245–258.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Scalbert, A, Manach, C, Morand, C, Resmesy, C, Jimenez, L. (2005) Dietary polyphenols and the prevention of diseases. Crit Rev Food Sci&Nutr 45(4):287–306.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed