In a subsequent study to examine an optimal amount, effects were observed in 48
experimental subjects who exhibited systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 130–
159 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 85–99 mmHg and were not
taking medications that affected blood pressure. These were divided into four
groups of 12 each receiving 2.5 g of alginic acid oligosaccharides per day (NaAO
2.5 g group), 5.0 g per day (NaAO 5.0 g group), 10 g per day (NaAO 10 g group),
and a placebo (NaAO 0 g group). Findings for the three-month double blind
comparative study showed a large standard deviation and unclear dosage reliability
due to the small sample size of 12, but decreases or decreasing tendencies in blood
pressure were observed for all groups that took alginic acid oligosaccharides
(Chaki 2005).
3. Cholesterol Reduction Effects
Based on preliminary test showing lipid metabolism improvements in animals
given alginic acid oligosaccharides, possible effects in improving cholesterol levels
in human through alginic acid oligosaccharide consumption were examined, taking
advantage of the fact that six out of ten experimental group members in the preliminary human blood pressure experiment related in (2) also had cholesterol above
the threshold (220 mg/dl). Values were observed to decline from 258.5 ± 24.1
(mg/dl) at the consumption start date to 232.8 ± 15.2 (mg/dl) by the eighth week of
consumption, a difference of 25 (mg/dl). This suggests the same cholesterol level
*, ** p<0.05, p<0.01 compared to placebo group (variation analysis by Scheffe showed
significance level of 5% for both sides)
Fig. 6.16 Blood pressure changes while taking alginic acid oligosaccharides
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6 Seaweed Biotechnology
experimental subjects who exhibited systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 130–
159 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 85–99 mmHg and were not
taking medications that affected blood pressure. These were divided into four
groups of 12 each receiving 2.5 g of alginic acid oligosaccharides per day (NaAO
2.5 g group), 5.0 g per day (NaAO 5.0 g group), 10 g per day (NaAO 10 g group),
and a placebo (NaAO 0 g group). Findings for the three-month double blind
comparative study showed a large standard deviation and unclear dosage reliability
due to the small sample size of 12, but decreases or decreasing tendencies in blood
pressure were observed for all groups that took alginic acid oligosaccharides
(Chaki 2005).
3. Cholesterol Reduction Effects
Based on preliminary test showing lipid metabolism improvements in animals
given alginic acid oligosaccharides, possible effects in improving cholesterol levels
in human through alginic acid oligosaccharide consumption were examined, taking
advantage of the fact that six out of ten experimental group members in the preliminary human blood pressure experiment related in (2) also had cholesterol above
the threshold (220 mg/dl). Values were observed to decline from 258.5 ± 24.1
(mg/dl) at the consumption start date to 232.8 ± 15.2 (mg/dl) by the eighth week of
consumption, a difference of 25 (mg/dl). This suggests the same cholesterol level
*, ** p<0.05, p<0.01 compared to placebo group (variation analysis by Scheffe showed
significance level of 5% for both sides)
Fig. 6.16 Blood pressure changes while taking alginic acid oligosaccharides
186
6 Seaweed Biotechnology