Another experiment conducted with the suppression of blood pressure increases
using alginic acid oligosaccharide potassium salts and calcium chloride showed that
those salts, like the alginic acid oligosaccharide sodium salts, also had an effect in
blocking an increase in blood pressure. The findings show that the effect in
checking increased blood pressure is not due to the metal ions (sodium and
potassium), but is released to the sugar component (Hiura et al. 2001; Terakado
et al. 2012; Moriya et al. 2013; Chaki 2005).
2. Effects on Human Blood Pressure
Since effects in suppressing increases in blood pressure have been observed in
animal experiments, possible effects in lowering blood pressure in humans have
also been investigated. In a preliminary experiment, 15 unmedicated mild hypertension patients (14 male and one female) were divided into an experimental group
of 10 and a placebo group of five. In a double-blind study, the experimental group
was instructed to take 10 grams of alginic acid oligosaccharides per day in beverage
form for eight weeks. The results showed systolic blood pressure for the experimental group decreasing substantially from 153.5 ± 6.7 to 137.4 ± 11.7 mmHg
after eight weeks, which was a significant difference from the placebo group. Blood
pressure was also observed to continuously decline afterwards (Fig. 6.16). From
this, it was determined that alginic acid oligosaccharides are also effective in
lowering blood pressure in humans, and that 10 g represented an effective dose
(Ueno et al. 2012).
*, ** p<0.05, p<0.01 compared to control group
(Significant difference assessment: Student’s t-test)
Fig. 6.15 Blood pressure increase suppression effects of alginic acid oligosaccharides
6.8 Industrial Applications of Seaweeds
185
using alginic acid oligosaccharide potassium salts and calcium chloride showed that
those salts, like the alginic acid oligosaccharide sodium salts, also had an effect in
blocking an increase in blood pressure. The findings show that the effect in
checking increased blood pressure is not due to the metal ions (sodium and
potassium), but is released to the sugar component (Hiura et al. 2001; Terakado
et al. 2012; Moriya et al. 2013; Chaki 2005).
2. Effects on Human Blood Pressure
Since effects in suppressing increases in blood pressure have been observed in
animal experiments, possible effects in lowering blood pressure in humans have
also been investigated. In a preliminary experiment, 15 unmedicated mild hypertension patients (14 male and one female) were divided into an experimental group
of 10 and a placebo group of five. In a double-blind study, the experimental group
was instructed to take 10 grams of alginic acid oligosaccharides per day in beverage
form for eight weeks. The results showed systolic blood pressure for the experimental group decreasing substantially from 153.5 ± 6.7 to 137.4 ± 11.7 mmHg
after eight weeks, which was a significant difference from the placebo group. Blood
pressure was also observed to continuously decline afterwards (Fig. 6.16). From
this, it was determined that alginic acid oligosaccharides are also effective in
lowering blood pressure in humans, and that 10 g represented an effective dose
(Ueno et al. 2012).
*, ** p<0.05, p<0.01 compared to control group
(Significant difference assessment: Student’s t-test)
Fig. 6.15 Blood pressure increase suppression effects of alginic acid oligosaccharides
6.8 Industrial Applications of Seaweeds
185