Seaweed Supplementation Research Articles

Effect of dietary seaweed supplementation on growth performance, antioxidant and immune responses in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) subjected to rearing temperature and salinity oscillations

The current study evaluated the effects of dietary seaweed supplementation in European seabass juveniles (Dicentrarchus labrax) subjected to rearing temperature and salinity oscillations, simulating natural variations in pond aquaculture conditions. Two experimental diets where formulated: a control diet (CTRL) with no supplementation and one supplemented with 7.5% seaweed mix (SW 2.5% Fucus sp., 2.5% Gracilaria sp. and 2.5% Ulva sp.). Seabass from both dietary groups (40.7 g initial body weight) was subjected to either combined salinity and temperature oscillations, or to fixed conditions. Growth performance, innate immune, and oxidative stress responses were evaluated. Results showed that seaweed supplementation had no significant effect on the analyzed parameters. However, environmental oscillations revealed significant effects on growth performance and oxidative stress response. Fish subjected to salinity and temperature oscillations had a significantly lower weight gain and daily growth index than those subjected to fixed conditions, regardless of dietary treatment. Total glutathione, oxidized glutathione, and catalase increased in fish subjected to oscillatory conditions. Lysozyme and peroxidase were not influenced by either diet or environmental conditions. In conclusion, this particular dietary seaweed mix supplementation did not mitigate the negative effects of environmental oscillations on growth performance and innate immune responses in European seabass.

Effect of seaweed supplementation on tocopherol concentrations in bovine milk using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction

A dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) method, combined with HPLC-UV detection, was developed for the extraction and preconcentration of δ-tocopherol from bovine milk. This method was used to study the effect of supplementing cow feed with the seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum on vitamin content in milk. The optimal experimental conditions were determined: 200 μL of chloroform (extraction solvent), 1.0 mL of ethanol (dispersive solvent), 5 mL of water (aqueous phase). Under these optimal conditions the DLLME method provided linearity in the range 0.01 μg/mL to 8 μg/mL with R2 values of 0.998. Limit of detection (LOD) was 0.01 μg/mL, while the enrichment factor was 89. Cow feed that was supplemented with Ascophyllum nodosum was shown to increase δ-tocopherol levels from 3.82 μg/mL to 5.96 μg/mL.

Effect of Red Seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii on Growth, Survival, and Disease Resistance of Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei Against Vibrio harveyi in the Nursery Phase

In this study, the effect of red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii by-product meal on growth, survival, and disease resistance of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei against Vibrio harveyi was evaluated in the nursery phase. Shrimp was fed for 30 days with four different diets: control (0 g kg-1), 5 g kg-1, 10 g kg-1 and 15 g kg-1 seaweed supplemented feed. The seaweed supplementation at the higher concentrations (10 and 15 g kg-1) was found to increase the survival of the shrimp, even though not significantly. The highest total biomass obtained in the shrimp group fed with 15 g kg-1 seaweed diet (P>0.05). Following feeding test, bacterial challenge test using pathogenic V. harveyi was done on the shrimp group previously fed with 15 g kg-1 seaweed diet. The findings showed that seaweed-supplementation significantly increased up to 10% higher shrimp survival after Vibrio challenge. Based on the results of histopathological analysis, hepatopancreas from seaweed-supplemented shrimp showed decreasing tubular epithelial cell lesion by Vibrio infection, suggesting that compounds contained in K. alvarezii by-product meal could have protected shrimp hepatopancreas from distructive effect of Vibrio infection. In general, red seaweed K. alvarezii enrichment on shrimp diet provides protection against V. harveyi infectionduring the shrimp nursery phase.

Effects Of Seaweed Supplementation On Oxidative Stress And Blood Glucose Regulation After Resistance Training In Rats

PURPOSE:To investigate the effects of resistance training and supplement seaweed on oxidative stress and blood glucose regulation in rats. METHODS: The five-week-old SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: C group (control group), S group (seaweed group), E group (exercise group) and ES group (exercise plus seaweed group). The rats in E group and ES group were trained with climbing resistance every two days, S group and ES group were given seaweed immediately after exercise. C group and E group were given placebo at the same time. After 10 weeks training, the ability of blood glucose regulation and oxidative stress of muscle would be test. RESULTS: HOMA-IR of ES group were significantly higher than C group ( C group 2.3 ± 0.2 < ES group 3.8 ± 0.8 ). TBARS of E group were significantly higher than C group ( E group 1.3 ± 0.2 umole/g > C group 1.0 ± 0.05 umole/g), but ES group were significantly lower than E group (ES group 1.0 ± 0.05 umole/g < E group 1.3 ± 0.2 umole/g ) . SOD of ES group and S group were significantly higher than C group ( ES group 0.61 ± 0.04 U/mg > C group 0.47 ± 0.05 U/mg, S group 0.60 ± 0.04 U/mg > C group 0.47 ± 0.05 U/mg ) . Resistance training was significantly increased for GSH, but supplemental seaweed had no effect. While in the GSSG, supplementation of seaweed was significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS:Ten weeks of resistance training and supplementation of seaweed immediately after exercise may reduce oxidative stress, but reduce insulin sensitivity.

Assessing in vivo digestibility and effects on immune system of sheep fed alfalfa hay supplemented with a fixed amount of Ulva rigida and Gracilaria vermiculophylla

Ruminants could be the most suitable domestic animals to be supplemented with seaweeds as the rumen ecosystem might provide the animal the ability to use these feed resources by breaking down the complex polysaccharides. The objective of the present in vivo study was to determine the digestibility and the effects on the immune system of one green (Ulva rigida) and one red (Gracilaria vermiculophylla) seaweed cultivated in an integrated multitrophic aquaculture system (IMTA) and included in the diet of sheep at a supplementing level up to 25%. Both seaweeds showed lower dry matter digestibilitity than alfalfa hay, the organic matter digestibility of U. rigida being higher than that of G. vermiculophylla. The studied seaweeds had similar fiber and energy digestibility. Seaweed supplementation did not influence hematological parameters, reactive oxygen species production by neutrophils, nor lymphocytic response to T and B cells mitogens. The low fiber digestibility of selected seaweeds would be the major constraint to their use in high amounts in ruminant diets. Dietary seaweed supplementation has no deleterious effect on the immune function of cells mediating innate and acquired immunity.

Effects of dietary Gracilaria sp. and Alaria sp. supplementation on growth performance, metabolic rates and health in meagre (Argyrosomus regius) subjected to pathogen infection

Effects of dietary seaweed supplementation on basal physiology and health biomarkers were assessed in meagre (Argyrosomus regius) subjected to bacterial infection, using Photobacterium damselae subsp. Piscicida (Phdp) as the etiologic agent. Three test diets were prepared by supplementing a basal control formulation (44 % protein, 16 % lipid, 22 kJ g−1 energy) with 0 % seaweed (control), 5 % Gracilaria sp. or 5 % Alaria sp. During the growth trial, 180 fish (39.70 ± 0.33 g) were daily fed for 69 days with the experimental diets. After the growth trial, 60 fish from each dietary treatment were divided into two groups, infected and non-infected. The infected group was injected intraperitoneally with a saline solution (HBSS) with 2.91 x 103 CFU Phdp g−1 fish, whereas the non-infected group was injected with HBSS without Phdp. Dietary seaweed supplementation did not affect fish growth performance. Standard and routine metabolic rates, and aerobic metabolic scope did not vary significantly among dietary treatments. Conversely, maximum metabolic rate was significantly higher in fish fed Alaria sp. diet when compared to control group. Non-infected fish had higher hematocrit levels than the infected group, regardless of diet. Lactate levels were significantly higher in fish fed Alaria sp. diet when compared to control, with no interaction between diet and infection. Lipid peroxidation was significantly higher in fish fed control diet than supplemented diets. Infected groups had lower antioxidant enzymes activities when compared to non-infected. An interaction between infection and diet was found for glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione activities. The current study suggests that dietary seaweed supplementation modulates metabolic rates and biomarker responses in meagre, which may confer advantages in coping with biotic stressors.

Influence of Green Seaweed (Ulva rigida) Supplementation on the Quality and Shelf Life of Atlantic Salmon Fillets

ABSTRACTSupplementation of salmon (Salmo salar) diets with Ulva rigida (UR; 0, 5, 10, and 15% UR) or synthetic astaxanthin (positive control, PC) for 19-weeks preslaughter on quality indices of fresh (raw) salmon fillets was examined. Susceptibility of salmon fillets/homogenates to oxidative stress conditions (cooking/iron-ascorbate induced oxidation) was also measured. In salmon fillets stored in modified atmosphere packs (MAP; 60% N2:40% CO2) for up to 15 days at 4ºC, U. rigida increased surface “−a*” greenness and “b*” yellowness values in a dose-dependent manner resulting in a final yellow/orange flesh color. Proximate composition, pH, and lipid oxidation (fresh, cooked, and fillet homogenates) were unaffected by dietary addition of U. rigida. On Day 12, 5% UR psychrotrophic bacterial growth was lower than controls. Salmon fed 5% UR did not influence “eating quality” sensory descriptors (texture, odor, oxidation flavor, and overall acceptability) in cooked salmon fillets compared to 0% UR. Higher levels of dietary U. rigida (10 and 15% UR) were negatively correlated with color and overall acceptability descriptors. Results indicated that dietary U. rigida, at a level of 5%, may prove to be a functional ingredient in salmon feed to enhance salmon fillet quality.

Role of dietary seaweed supplementation on growth performance, digestive capacity and immune and stress responsiveness in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

This work aimed to appraise growth performance, digestive capacity and immune and stress responsiveness in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) when fed diets supplemented with seaweeds. A control diet (without supplementation) was tested against 6 practical diets supplemented either with Gracilaria spp., Ulva spp., or Fucus spp., at 2.5 or 7.5% levels, plus an additional diet with a blend of the three seaweeds, each supplemented at 2.5% (Mix). Seabass juveniles (24.0±6.3g) were fed the experimental diets for 84days. Dietary seaweed supplementation had no effect on growth rate (DGI: 1.0–1.1), voluntary feed intake (11.3–12.6gkg −1ABW−1day−1), feed conversion ratio (FCR: 1.2–1.4) and protein efficiency ratio (PER: 1.5–1.8). Lipase activity was significantly higher in fish fed Mix diet when compared to control (P<0.05). Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was significantly affected by seaweeds presence regardless its level of supplementation (P<0.05). The innate immune system was significantly altered by dietary seaweed supplementation (P<0.05). Fish fed the 7.5% seaweed supplemented diets had a significant decrease in the ACH50 level, when compared to fish fed 2.5% seaweed supplemented diets (P<0.05). Moreover, a combined effect of seaweed and supplementation level significantly affected lysozyme (LYS) activity (P<0.05). Fish fed diet with Ulva at 2.5% had an increase in LYS when compared to fish fed control and Ulva at 7.5% diets. Overall, our results indicate that the use of dietary seaweed supplementation improves immune and antioxidant responses in European seabass without compromising growth performance.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects of brown seaweeds in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESSeaweeds have been reported to have various health beneficial effects. In this study, we investigated the potential anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory effects of four types of domestic brown seaweeds in a high-fat diet-induced obese mouse model and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM).MATERIALS/METHODSMale C57BL/6N mice were fed low-fat diet (LFD), high-fat diet (HFD) or HFD containing Undaria Pinnatifida, HFD containing Laminaria Japonica (LJ), HFD containing Sargassum Fulvellum, or HFD containing Hizikia Fusiforme (HF) for 16 weeks.RESULTSBrown seaweed supplementation did not affect long-term HFD-associated changes in body weight or adiposity, although mice fed HFD + LJ or HFD + HF gained slightly less body weight compared with those fed HFD at the beginning of feeding. Despite being obese, mice fed HFD + LJ appeared to show improved insulin sensitivity compared to mice fed HFD. Consistently, we observed significantly reduced blood glucose concentrations in mice fed HFD + LJ compared with those of mice fed HFD. Although no significant differences in adipocyte size were detected among the HFD-fed groups, consumption of seaweeds decreased formation of HFD-induced crown-like structures in gonadal adipose tissue as well as plasma inflammatory cytokines. BMDM from mice fed HFDs with seaweeds showed differential regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-6 compared with BMDM from mice fed HFD by LPS stimulation.CONCLUSIONAlthough seaweed consumption did not prevent long-term HFD-induced obesity in C57BL/6N mice, it reduced insulin resistance (IR) and circulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, seaweeds may ameliorate systemic inflammation and IR in obesity partially due to inhibition of inflammatory signaling in adipose tissue cells as well as bone marrow-derived immune cells.

Diets supplemented with seaweed affect metabolic rate, innate immune, and antioxidant responses, but not individual growth rate in European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

This study investigated the effects of seaweed dietary supplementation on measures of fish performance including aerobic metabolism, digestive enzymes activity, innate immune status, oxidative damage, and growth rate using European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Fish were fed for 49 days with three different diets: a control diet (CTRL), a Gracilaria-supplemented diet (GR7.5), and a mixed diet (Mix) composed of Gracilaria, Fucus, and Ulva genera representatives. All diets were isoenergetic (22 kJ g−1 adjusted for dry matter (DM)), isoproteic (47 %DM), and isolipidic (18 %DM) and tested in triplicate groups of 20 fish (initial body weight 25.5 ± 4.1 g). Final results showed similar growth rates and digestive activities between diets. Maximum and standard metabolic rates and aerobic metabolic scope revealed comparable results for the three diets. In contrast, fish fed with GR7.5 exhibited elevated routine metabolic rate (190.7 mg O2 kg−1 h−1). Fish fed with the GR7.5 and Mix diets had lower alternative complement pathway (ACH50) (62.5 and 63 units mL−1 respectively) than CTRL (84 units mL−1) GR7.5 increased lipid peroxidation and cholinesterase levels, as well as glutathione s-transferase activity. Mix diet increased glutathione reductase activity when compared to CTRL. Collectively, our findings suggest that dietary seaweed supplementation may alter seabass metabolic rate, innate immune, and antioxidant responses without compromising growth parameters.

Suppression of Tilapia Muscle Odor by Seaweed Supplementation to Diet

Suppression of Tilapia Muscle Odor by Seaweed Supplementation to Diet

SEAWEED AS MICRONUTRIENTS INGREDIENT FOR FOOD SUPPLEMENT

In some part of Indonesia seaweed has been used as vegetables dish. The most important component of seaweed isiodine and iron. Gracillariasp is one species of seaweed that can be used as a source of the mikronutrients such as iron, iodine and calcium. Iron Deficiency Anemia and Iodine Deficiency Disorder can cause several diseases also known low haemoglobin level and iodine level in the blood. This preparation of Gracillariasp could supplement micro-nutrients in the diet. This study was to develop appropriate local technology of Gracillariaspcontainedas an ingredient in the making of food supplement for imorovement of micronutrients intake.The experimental study uses optimum formulated comosition from seaweed.Based on the practical in the area (Bali), the formula of seaweed compose of seaweed of Gracillaria with additional of 20 % salty fish extract, 5 % dextrin. The seaweeds contains high of carbohydrate, iodine, calcium and iron but low in protein and lipid. Appropriate technology of dried seaweed supplement could be prepared at home. Theseseaweed supplements could be advocated in rural arealevel or posyandufor combating under nutrition status of the children.The formula of direct seaweed inclusion inthe supplement is preferred due to green colour and acceptable taste compared to dried seaweed. The serving sice of 25 g of this product could be cover children’s need about 23 % in iodine, 100 % in iron and 22- 35 % in calcium. Keywords: seaweed, Gracillariasp, iodine, iron, food supplement

Seaweed enrichment of feed supplied to farm‐raised Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is associated with higher total fatty acid and LC n‐3 PUFA concentrations in fish flesh

AbstractSeaweeds have great potential as feed ingredients for fish farming, though their effects on the fatty acid content and profile of fish flesh are not well established. Recent studies suggest that seaweed supplementation can increase the concentration of long chain omega‐3 PUFA (LC n‐3 PUFAs) in various animal species, though this effect has never been assessed in salmon. Primarily, this study compared the fatty acid profiles of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) that were fed a high quality diet containing seaweed (Diet A), with those on a high quality control diet without seaweed (Diet B). In addition, fatty acid profiles of Atlantic salmon that were fed a standard industrial quality diet containing seaweed (Diet C), were compared to those on a similar diet without seaweed (Diet D). Total fatty acid concentrations were significantly higher (+30%, p&lt;0.05) in the flesh of the fish that were fed seaweed. Flesh concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA were 30% and 62% higher (p&lt;0.05) in Diet A and Diet C groups compared to salmon in Diet B and Diet D groups respectively. Analysis of the fish lipid revealed no significant differences in LC‐3 PUFAs between the high quality diet groups, while significantly higher (+ 45%, p&lt;0.005) concentrations EPA + DHA were found in fish that consumed Diet C compared to Diet D. These findings support the hypothesis that the inclusion of seaweed in fish farm diets alters lipid partitioning and profiles of Atlantic salmon.Practical Applications: This study reveals a possible way to substantially increase EPA and DHA concentrations in farmed salmon. Both EPA and DHA are LC n‐3 PUFAs and are essential components of the human diet. Unfortunately, consumption of such PUFAs is generally below RDI levels, which is in turn linked to several non‐communicable diseases. Moreover, EPA + DHA concentrations in farmed salmon are now declining due to the replacement of scarce fish oils (rich in LC n‐3 PUFA) by more sustainable plant‐based oils (low in EPA + DHA) in fish feeds. Since salmon is one of the world's most consumed fish and one of the few major sources of LC n‐3 PUFAs, it is of great importance to maintain or increase EPA + DHA levels in farmed salmon. The results of this study show that this could be achieved by dietary inclusion of seaweed.Seaweed can increase LC n‐3 PUFA levels in salmon.

Effect of dietary seaweed (Ulva lactuca) supplementation on growth performance of sheep and on in vitro gas production kinetics

This study was carried out to determine the effect of dietary seaweed (Ulva lactuca) supplementation on growth performance of sheep, in vitro gas production, estimated energy, and microbial protein synthesis. A total of 18 Naimey male sheep with average live weight of 22.78 ± 0.24 kg were randomly allocated to 3 groups. Sheep in group 1 were fed a diet containing commercial feed without seaweed as a control diet, sheep in group 2 were fed the control diet with 3% seaweed, and sheep in group 3 were fed the control diet with 5% seaweed. The supplementation of seaweed had no effect (P > 0.05) on the average daily gain, feed intake, and feed conversion efficiency. The extent of gas production at 72 h was similar among the 3 groups (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the potential degradability, gas production rate, metabolizable energy, net energy, organic matter digestibility, and microbial protein synthesis among the experimental diets. This study concluded that dietary supplementation of seaweed (Ulva lactuca) has no effect on growth of sheep, in vitro gas production, potential degradability, estimated energy, organic matter digestibility, and microbial protein synthesis.

Feed supplementation with red seaweeds, Chondrus crispus and Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii, affects performance, egg quality, and gut microbiota of layer hens

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of red seaweed supplementation to standard poultry diets on production performance, egg quality, intestinal histology, and cecal short-chain fatty acids in Lohmann Brown Classic laying hens. A total of 160 birds were randomly assigned to 8 treatment groups. Control hens were fed a basal layer diet; positive control hens were fed a diet containing 2% inulin; and 6 treatment groups were fed a diet containing one of the following; 0.5, 1, or 2% Chondrus crispus (CC0.5, CC1, and CC2, respectively) and one of the same 3 levels of Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii (SG0.5, SG1, and SG2, respectively). Dietary supplementation had no significant effect on the feed intake, BW, egg production, fecal moisture content, and blood serum profile of the birds. The feed conversion ratio per gram of egg was significantly more efficient (P = 0.001) for CC2 and SG2 treatments. Moreover, SG1 supplementation increased egg yolk weight (P = 0.0035) and birds with CC1 supplementation had higher egg weight (P = 0.0006). The SG2 and CC2 groups had greater (P < 0.05) villus height and villus surface area compared with the control birds. Seaweed supplementation increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria [e.g., Bifidobacterium longum (4- to 14-fold), Streptococcus salivarius (4- to 15-fold)] and importantly reduced the prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in the gut of the chicken. Additionally, the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids, including acetic acid, propionic acid, n- butyric acid, and i-butyric acid, were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in CC and SG treatments than in the control. In conclusion, dietary supplementation using red seaweed inclusions can act as a potential prebiotic to improve performance, egg quality, and overall gut health in layer hens.

Low-level seaweed supplementation improves iodine status in iodine-insufficient women.

Iodine insufficiency is now a prominent issue in the UK and other European countries due to low intakes of dairy products and seafood (especially where iodine fortification is not in place). In the present study, we tested a commercially available encapsulated edible seaweed (Napiers Hebridean Seagreens® Ascophyllum nodosum species) for its acceptability to consumers and iodine bioavailability and investigated the impact of a 2-week daily seaweed supplementation on iodine concentrations and thyroid function. Healthy non-pregnant women of childbearing age, self-reporting low dairy product and seafood consumption, with no history of thyroid or gastrointestinal disease were recruited. Seaweed iodine (712 μg, in 1 g seaweed) was modestly bioavailable at 33 (interquartile range (IQR) 28-46) % of the ingested iodine dose compared with 59 (IQR 46-74) % of iodine from the KI supplement (n 22). After supplement ingestion (2 weeks, 0·5 g seaweed daily, n 42), urinary iodine excretion increased from 78 (IQR 39-114) to 140 (IQR 103-195) μg/l (P< 0·001). The concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone increased from 1·5 (IQR 1·2-2·2) to 2·1 (IQR 1·3-2·9) mIU/l (P< 0·001), with two participants having concentrations exceeding the normal range after supplement ingestion (but normal free thyroxine concentrations). There was no change in the concentrations of other thyroid hormones after supplement ingestion. The seaweed was palatable and acceptable to consumers as a whole food or as a food ingredient and effective as a source of iodine in an iodine-insufficient population. In conclusion, seaweed inclusion in staple foods would serve as an alternative to fortification of salt or other foods with KI.

Immunological effects of feeding macroalgae and various vitamin E supplements in Norwegian white sheep-ewes and their offspring

It is assumed that ewes raised in areas with long indoor winter feeding periods need to be supplemented with vitamins or other substances that help to maintain the health status of the animals. Various supplements are available on the market, but the most widely used supplemental antioxidant and vitamin E source is synthetic all-rac-α-tocopheryl acteate. The objective of the present study was to compare potential vitamin E and immune stimulant sources with synthetic vitamin E regarding bioactivity associated with immunological parameters in order to identify alternatives to synthetic vitamin E for small ruminants. Sources tested were meal of the seaweed Ascophylum nodosum and natural RRR-α-tocopheryl acetate. Forty pregnant ewes were randomly allocated to four treatment group with two replicates (5 ewes in each replicate). The treatments were supplements containing seaweed (SW: 546g Ascophylum nodosum/kg), natural vitamin E (NatE: 562.5mg RRR-α-tocopheryl acetate/kg), synthetic vitamin E (SyntE: 1125mg all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate/kg), or no extra seaweed or vitamin E (control). The supplements were fed at an isoenergetic daily rate, on average 144g DM/ewe for SW and 114g DM/ewe for the three other treatments, from mating until start grazing season (200 days). It was assumed that 0.5mg RRR- α-tocopheryl acetate was equal to 1IU=1mg all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate. The planned supplementation in the SyntE and NatE treatments were 140IU vitamin E/ewe daily, and the daily supplemental rate was on average for the whole experimental period 20, 146, 121 and 4IU in SW, SyntE, NatE and C treatments, respectively. The ewes and their newborn lambs were monitored throughout the entire indoor feeding period. Supplementing pregnant ewes with natural vitamin E had a positive effect on immunity against Mycobacterium sp. in the lambs, whereas supplementing ewes with seaweed interfered with the passive immunity of the offspring resulting in a mortality rate of 35%, compared with 10% in C, 5.6% in NatE and 0% in SyntE. The adaptive immunity of the lambs was not affected by seaweed supplementation. In the ewes, it seemed that supplementation with either seaweed, natural vitamin E or synthetic vitamin E had no beneficial health effects, and serum IgG concentrations were reduced in the seaweed treatment group.

Effect of seaweed supplementation on growth performance, immune and oxidative stress responses in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)

Effect of seaweed supplementation on growth performance, immune and oxidative stress responses in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)

Effects of dietary seaweed (Ulva lactuca) supplementation on the reproductive performance of buck and doe rabbits

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of seaweed on the reproductive performance of rabbits. Two trials were performed during this study. In the first trial, semen quality was evaluated in 15 buck rabbits with mean body weight of 4.80±0.41 kg and six month of age. In the second trial, prolificacy was determined in 30 artificially inseminated does with a mean body weight of 4.84±0.50 kg and five to six months of age. Rabbits in each trial were randomly allocated to one of three dietary seaweed levels; commercial pelleted diet (C), pelleted diet supplemented with 1% seaweed (T1), and pelleted diet supplemented with 2% seaweed (T2). Dietary supplementation of seaweed significantly increased plasma testosterone concentration and improved various sperm motility parameters. Analysis of acrosomal membrane integrity using electron microscopy revealed no significant influences of dietary seaweed supplementation on quality grade (I–IV) of all tested samples. These results reflected in positive prolificacy response of does artificially inseminated with semen samples pooled from bucks fed on T2, and offered diet supplemented with 2% seaweed one week prior to their insemination and throughout the gestation period. Feeding diets supplemented with 2% seaweed to doe rabbits improved their kindling rate, litter size, and their offspring ratio. Seaweed supplementation to the diets of rabbits raised under summer conditions had improved their reproductive performance by improving the semen fertility characteristics of bucks and the prolificacy characteristics of does. Hematological and biochemical parameters investigated in this study did not reveal any pathological signs in both rabbit's genders due to dietary seaweed supplementation.

The consumption of seaweed as a protective factor in the etiology of breast cancer: proof of principle.

Daily consumption of seaweed has been proposed as a factor in explaining lower postmenopausal breast cancer (BC) incidence and mortality rates in Japan. This clinical trial assessed the impact of introducing seaweed- to non-seaweed-consuming American postmenopausal women. Fifteen healthy postmenopausal women were recruited for a 3-month single-blinded placebo controlled clinical trial; five had no history of BC (controls) and ten were BC survivors. Participants ingested ten capsules daily (5 g day−1) of placebo for 4 weeks, seaweed (Undaria) for 4 weeks, then placebo for another 4 weeks. Blood and urine samples were collected after each treatment period. Urinary human urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor concentrations (uPAR) were analyzed by ELISA, and urine and serum were analyzed for protein expression using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS). Urinary creatinine standardized uPAR (in pg mL μg−1 creatinine) changed significantly between groups, decreasing by about half following seaweed supplementation (placebo 1, 1.5 (95 % CI, 0.9–2.1) and seaweed, 0.9 (95 % CI, 0.6–1.1) while placebo 2 returned to pre-seaweed concentration (1.7 (95 % CI, 1.2-2.2); p = 0.01, ANOVA). One SELDI-TOF-MS-identified urinary protein (m/z 9,776) showed a similar reversible decrease with seaweed and is reported to be associated with cell attachment. One serum protein (m/z 8,928) reversibly increased with seaweed and may be the immunostimulatory complement activation C3a des-arginine. uPAR is higher among postmenopausal women generally, and for BC patients, it is associated with unfavorable BC prognosis. By lowering uPAR, dietary seaweed may help explain lower BC incidence and mortality among postmenopausal women in Japan.