Ecklonia Cava Extract: SuperAntioxidant?

Posted on June 11, 2009
Filed Under Vitamin Supplements | Leave a Comment

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

by Mason Ballenger

ECE, or Ecklonia Cava Extract, comes from the brown algae known as Ecklonia cava. This algae lives in large colonies in the ocean, and Ecklonia Cava Extract is a standardized extract of molecules derived from this water-based plant. ECE contains phlorotannins, a unique type of polyphenols different from those found in land-based plants. Phlorotannins are thought to promote unique biological benefits within the body.

Not only does ECE have a very high antioxidant (ORAC) score, 8,300 mol TE/100g, it is unique among antioxidants. First, it has a very long lifetime in the bloodstream compared to other antioxidants – up to 12 hours. It also shows fat solubility of 40%, which lets its effects on the body to be universal. Ecklonia Cava Extract is believed to be 10 to 100 times more powerful than green tea extract in free-radical scavenging abililty, due to its unique structure.

Many have applied the label “super antioxidant” to Ecklonia Cava Extract. Not only does it have the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, it has a unique and powerful structure. ECE polyphenols have up to 8 interconnecting rings, while green tea catechins have only 4. This significantly boosts its ability to scavenge free radicals.

Ecklonia Cava Extract has demonstrated powerful activity against two suspected enemies to human health: peroxynitrite and oxidized LDL cholesterol. Peroxynitrite is a dangerous free radical that has been implicated in multiple chemical sensitivity, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and many other conditions. Oxidized LDL cholesterol particles have been linked to conditions such as metabolic syndrome. It is also believed that Ecklonia Cava Extract contains powerful inflammatory mediators.

In an eight-week, double-blind, placebo controlled study, ECE demonstrated profound benefits in a group of established fibromyalgia patients. It reduced the time it took participants to fall asleep, and increased overall nighttime sleep. It improved soundness of sleep and boosted energy levels. Study participants also reported more good days per week, reduced pain, and an improvement in their general condition.

ECE has been shown to be beneficial in fighting obesity, promoting weight loss, and providing cardiovascular benefits. ECE contains heart-healthy compounds that scavenge free radicals in the bloodstream and promote healthy cholesterol levels. Its weight loss benefits have also been studied in rats and humans. Laboratory rats given Ecklonia Cava Extract showed greater physical activity and decreased body fat. Young adults given a drink containing Ecklonia Cava Extract showed decreased body fat and increased muscle mass.

Improvements in brain function have also been demonstrated with subjects given Ecklonia Cava Extract – notably, memory, relaxation, and alertness. It has been shown to increase blood flow in the carotid artery, increase alpha waves in the brain, and prevent sleepiness during daytime activities. ECE has been shown to protect neural cells and enhance brain activity in regions related to memory formation. In a rat study, ECE inhibited beta-amyloid formation in the brain, a substance which accumulates in Alzheimer’s disease.

Many other benefits of Ecklonia Cava Extract have been studied. The unique compounds in Ecklonia Cava Extract have been shown to aid with a variety of conditions, such as arthritis, inflammation, allergies, asthma, erectile dysfunction, and diabetes. As this fascinating substance continues to be researched, even more benefits may reveal themselves.

About the Author:
Author Mason Ballenger has studied many antioxidants and supplements. Ballenger feels that ecklonia cava extract is a highly beneficial supplement that should be part of everyone’s arsenal of nutritional supplements.
keep looking »

MyBlogLog