Research achievements on anticancer effects and the reduction of side-effects related to anticancer drugs
Research achievements on prevention of lifestyle-related diseases and reduction of disease risks
Research achievements to live a comfortable life
You are strictly prohibited to use (including, without limitation, shooting, copying, modifying, reproducing in whole or in part, uploading, transmitting, distributing, licensing, selling and publishing) any part or all of the information which are informed in our site, except Provisions of Exceptions stipulated in the Copyright law of Japan. Especially for the purpose of marketing, you are absolutely prohibited to use, without exception, because it is in conflict with Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.
In an article on "Physiological activity of fucoidan", a joint research carried out by Tottori University, Faculty of Medicine and Marine Products Kimuraya, was published in the Journal of "The Yonago Medical Association" September 2010, issued by the Yonago Medical Association. 1)
Outline of an examination of the influence of fucoidan on stool conditions based on clinical tests on both male and female adults exhibiting certain abdominal symptoms.
Enteral environment settled down, and increase in number of stool-days observed.
About 100 trillion microorganisms exist with the human intestines.
Those intestinal bacteria [1] break down elements that are not absorbed in the food. By synthesizing various substances with the decomposed substances as a nutrient source, a huge variety of biogeocenosis are created in the intestines.
It is thought that disturbance in the biogeocenosis balance of the intestines and resulting changes in human intestinal constitutions for any reason leads to increased risks of diseases.
Furthermore through the interaction of the intestinal bacteria with the intestinal mucosa [2], the gut immunity[3] which is the largest immune system, is adequately controlled.
Meanwhile constipation and diarrhea are symptoms often not regarded as illness but as being representative abdominal symptoms which bother many people. There are many ways to restrain or calm down these symptoms; however it is not easy to improve the constitution to prevent these symptoms from re-emerging.
Tottori University, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Science and Marine Products Kimuraya examined the influence of fucoidan on both male and female adults who complained of some kind of stool problems or abdominal health problems and compared days of stool, times of stool, stool quantity, and the features of stool (color, form, and smell).
We divided the subjects into two groups and conducted a cross-over study [5] with ingestion period of fucoidan and placebo [4] each for 2 weeks in alternate shifts, plus a period for non-ingestion of either of them.
As a result, during the ingestion period of fucoidan, increase in stool days was observed.
Also, a change of stool features suggested a change in the intestinal bacteria.
Increase of acidic smell of stool
In further analysis of stool and stool features, it was shown that the stool samples taken from the group that ingested fucoidan tended to harden without an increase in total quantity, while the placebo group did not.
As a result, it was shown that fucoidan as dietary fiber [6] not only activated the intestines of subjects who tended to have constipation, but also relieved symptoms of diarrhea, due to decrease in times of stool and hardening in feature of stool for the persons who repeatedly had symptoms of diarrhea.
Regarding the change in enteral environment, increase in acidic smell was significantly observed by ingestion of fucoidan.
The cause of increase in acidic smell was thought to be due to the increase in short-chain fatty acids [7] with change in the intestinal flora.
It is known that short-chain fatty acids have various functions to inhibit proliferation of harmful bacteria by shifting the intestine into a mild acidic environment, enhancing peristaltic motion by stimulating the large-intestinal mucosa and controlling immune reactions.
[Sources] 1)"Examination how activity of fucoidan derived from mozuku impacts features of stool and bowel movement", by Sunao Abe, The Journal of the Yonago Medical Association, 61(4-5), 122-128. (2010).
- Glossary
-
[1]Intestinal bacteria/A collective term for bacteria which live in human and animal intestines. It is said that in human intestines more than 100 species, 100 trillion intestinal microorganisms exist, and about half of the stool consist intestinal microorganisms and their dead bodies.
[2]Intestinal mucosa/An organ that promotes digestion. For example, in the stomach, mucosa has contact with strong acidity, in the small intestines mucosa absorbs many different materials, and in the large intestines it mainly absorbs water.
[3]Gut immunity/Immunity in the small intestines in order to eliminate such foreign materials, as food and microorganisms. Also intestinal microorganisms are involved in the activation of gut immunity.
[4]Placebo/A fake drug which is used in clinical tests and the like. It is used to compare and evaluate the influence by suggestion.
[5]Cross-over study/The test method to exchange two different test conditions, on the way of the first test.
[6]Dietary fiber/A collective term for foods which humans cannot digest, primarily plant carbohydrates and sea algae.
[7]Short-chain fatty acids/A collective term for short-chain fatty acids which certain bacteria produce.
