The effect of <it>Fucus vesiculosus</it>, an edible brown seaweed, upon menstrual cycle length and hormonal status in three pre-menopausal women: a case report
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rates of estrogen-dependent cancers are among the highest in Western countries and lower in the East. These variations may be attributable to differences in dietary exposures such as higher seaweed consumption among Asian populations...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2004-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/4/10 |
| _version_ | 1811284405197471744 |
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| author | Skibola Christine F |
| author_facet | Skibola Christine F |
| author_sort | Skibola Christine F |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rates of estrogen-dependent cancers are among the highest in Western countries and lower in the East. These variations may be attributable to differences in dietary exposures such as higher seaweed consumption among Asian populations. The edible brown kelp, <it>Fucus vesiculosus </it>(bladderwrack), as well as other brown kelp species, lower plasma cholesterol levels. Since cholesterol is a precursor to sex hormone biosynthesis, kelp consumption may alter circulating sex hormone levels and menstrual cycling patterns. In particular, dietary kelp may be beneficial to women with or at high risk for estrogen-dependent diseases. To test this, bladderwrack was administered to three pre-menopausal women with abnormal menstrual cycling patterns and/or menstrual-related disease histories.</p> <p>Case Presentation</p> <p>Intake of bladderwrack was associated with significant increases in menstrual cycle lengths, ranging from an increase of 5.5 to 14 days. In addition, hormone measurements ascertained for one woman revealed significant anti-estrogenic and progestagenic effects following kelp administration. Mean baseline 17β-estradiol levels were reduced from 626 ± 91 to 164 ± 30 pg/ml (<it>P </it>= 0.04) following 700 mg/d, which decreased further to 92.5.0 ± 3.5pg/ml (<it>P </it>= 0.03) with the1.4 g/d dose. Mean baseline progesterone levels rose from 0.58 ± 0.14 to 8.4 ± 2.6 ng/ml with the 700 mg/d dose (<it>P </it>= 0.1), which increased further to 16.8 ± 0.7 ng/ml with the 1.4 g/d dose (<it>P </it>= 0.002).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These pilot data suggest that dietary bladderwrack may prolong the length of the menstrual cycle and exert anti-estrogenic effects in pre-menopausal women. Further, these studies also suggest that seaweed may be another important dietary component apart from soy that is responsible for the reduced risk of estrogen-related cancers observed in Japanese populations. However, these studies will need to be performed in well-controlled clinical trials to confirm these preliminary findings.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:28:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1b60c6e9048e454a81504ccd3b346b61 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6882 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T02:28:08Z |
| publishDate | 2004-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-1b60c6e9048e454a81504ccd3b346b612022-12-22T03:06:41ZengBMCBMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine1472-68822004-08-01411010.1186/1472-6882-4-10The effect of <it>Fucus vesiculosus</it>, an edible brown seaweed, upon menstrual cycle length and hormonal status in three pre-menopausal women: a case reportSkibola Christine F<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rates of estrogen-dependent cancers are among the highest in Western countries and lower in the East. These variations may be attributable to differences in dietary exposures such as higher seaweed consumption among Asian populations. The edible brown kelp, <it>Fucus vesiculosus </it>(bladderwrack), as well as other brown kelp species, lower plasma cholesterol levels. Since cholesterol is a precursor to sex hormone biosynthesis, kelp consumption may alter circulating sex hormone levels and menstrual cycling patterns. In particular, dietary kelp may be beneficial to women with or at high risk for estrogen-dependent diseases. To test this, bladderwrack was administered to three pre-menopausal women with abnormal menstrual cycling patterns and/or menstrual-related disease histories.</p> <p>Case Presentation</p> <p>Intake of bladderwrack was associated with significant increases in menstrual cycle lengths, ranging from an increase of 5.5 to 14 days. In addition, hormone measurements ascertained for one woman revealed significant anti-estrogenic and progestagenic effects following kelp administration. Mean baseline 17β-estradiol levels were reduced from 626 ± 91 to 164 ± 30 pg/ml (<it>P </it>= 0.04) following 700 mg/d, which decreased further to 92.5.0 ± 3.5pg/ml (<it>P </it>= 0.03) with the1.4 g/d dose. Mean baseline progesterone levels rose from 0.58 ± 0.14 to 8.4 ± 2.6 ng/ml with the 700 mg/d dose (<it>P </it>= 0.1), which increased further to 16.8 ± 0.7 ng/ml with the 1.4 g/d dose (<it>P </it>= 0.002).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These pilot data suggest that dietary bladderwrack may prolong the length of the menstrual cycle and exert anti-estrogenic effects in pre-menopausal women. Further, these studies also suggest that seaweed may be another important dietary component apart from soy that is responsible for the reduced risk of estrogen-related cancers observed in Japanese populations. However, these studies will need to be performed in well-controlled clinical trials to confirm these preliminary findings.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/4/10 |
| spellingShingle | Skibola Christine F The effect of <it>Fucus vesiculosus</it>, an edible brown seaweed, upon menstrual cycle length and hormonal status in three pre-menopausal women: a case report BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine |
| title | The effect of <it>Fucus vesiculosus</it>, an edible brown seaweed, upon menstrual cycle length and hormonal status in three pre-menopausal women: a case report |
| title_full | The effect of <it>Fucus vesiculosus</it>, an edible brown seaweed, upon menstrual cycle length and hormonal status in three pre-menopausal women: a case report |
| title_fullStr | The effect of <it>Fucus vesiculosus</it>, an edible brown seaweed, upon menstrual cycle length and hormonal status in three pre-menopausal women: a case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effect of <it>Fucus vesiculosus</it>, an edible brown seaweed, upon menstrual cycle length and hormonal status in three pre-menopausal women: a case report |
| title_short | The effect of <it>Fucus vesiculosus</it>, an edible brown seaweed, upon menstrual cycle length and hormonal status in three pre-menopausal women: a case report |
| title_sort | effect of it fucus vesiculosus it an edible brown seaweed upon menstrual cycle length and hormonal status in three pre menopausal women a case report |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6882/4/10 |
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