Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if Porphyra tenera extract (PTE) has immune-enhancing effects and is safe in healthy adults. Methods: Subjects who met the inclusion criteria (3 × 103 ≤ peripheral blood leukocyte level ≥ 8 × 103 cells/µL) were recruited for this study. Enrolled subjects (n = 120) were randomly assigned to either the PTE group (n = 60) and were given 2.5 g/day of PTE (as PTE) in capsule form or the placebo group (n = 60) and were given crystal cellulose capsules with the identical appearance, weight, and flavor as the PTE capsules for 8 weeks. Outcomes were assessed based on measuring natural killer (NK) cell activity, cytokines level, and upper respiratory infection (URI), and safety parameters were assessed at baseline and 8 weeks. Results: Compared with baseline, NK cell activity (%) increased for all effector cell-to-target cell ratios in the PTE group after 8 weeks; however, changes were not observed in the placebo group (p < 0.10). Subgroup analysis of 101 subjects without URI showed that NK cell activity in the PTE group tended to increase for all effector cell/target cell (E:T) ratios (E:T = 12.5:1 p = 0.068; E:T = 25:1 p = 0.036; E:T = 50:1 p = 0.081) compared with the placebo group. A significant difference between the two groups was observed for the E:T = 25:1 ratio, which increased from 20.3 ± 12.0% at baseline to 23.2 ± 12.4% after 8 weeks in the PTE group (p = 0.036). A significant difference was not observed in cytokine between the two groups. Conclusion: PTE supplementation appears to enhance immune function by improving NK cell activity without adverse effects in healthy adults.
Highlights
Immune system imbalances can be caused by various factors, including aging, viral disease, increased stress, and environmental pollution
Significant differences were not observed in compliance with regard to taking the supplements between the Porphyra tenera extract (PTE) group and placebo group (95.2 ± 5.8% in the PTE group vs. 96.2 ± 4.1% in the placebo group, p = 0.265)
Significant differences were not observed in age, sex, Body mass index (BMI), vital signs, smoking rate, smoking quantity, drinking rate, or drinking amount between the two groups (p > 0.05; Table 2)
Summary
Immune system imbalances can be caused by various factors, including aging, viral disease, increased stress, and environmental pollution. Mass production of sea algae using aquaculture technology has been used to produce value-added foods [1,2]. Laver (Porphyra tenera), a type of red algae, has long been a staple food eaten in Western Pacific Ocean regions, including South Korea, China, and Japan, and its consumption is steadily increasing in Southeast Asia and around the world. Unlike other sea algae substances, laver has many free sugars, such as isofloridoside and floridoside, which are major carbohydrates. Laver has abundant dietary fiber in the form of sea algae polysaccharides including hemicellulose, which is an insoluble polysaccharide and cell wall component, and porphyrans, which are water-soluble acidic polysaccharides and intercellular rechargeable substances [3,4]. The porphyran present in laver comprises 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose, D-galactose, ester sulfate, and 6-O-methyl-D-galactose components
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