Heated oyster shell-seaweed calcium (AAA Ca) on osteoporosis

Abstract

A randomized, prospective, double-blind test was carried out to compare the effects of heated oyster shell-seaweed calcium (AAA Ca), calcium carbonate, and placebo in 58 elderly, hospitalized women with the mean age of 80 divided into three groups. Group A received 900 mg/day Ca as AAA Ca, Group B 900 mg/day Ca as CaCO3, and Group C placebo besides regular hospital diet containing approximately 600 mg Ca/day for 24 months. From the 25th to the 30th month, all groups were given AAA Ca. Lumbar spine and radial bone mineral density (BMD) were measured at 3-month intervals. Urinary Ca/Cr and serum alkaline phosphatase, intact and midportion serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), and calcitonin were also measured at intervals. From the 6th to the 24th month of the study, the ratio of lumbar spine BMD (L2-L4 by DPX, Lunar) to the basal pretest value was consistently and significantly higher in Group A than Group C but not higher in Group B than in Group C. PTH, measured 12 months after the beginning of the study, was lower in Group A than in Group C, but no significant difference was found between Groups B and C. At 3 months after the placebo was switched to AAA Ca in Group C, serum PTH was significantly decreased from the level during placebo supplement. Morning urine Ca/Cr decreased in Groups A after 18 months and in B after 12 months, but not in C. Serum alkaline phosphatase decreased in Group A significantly compared with Group C, but not in Group B. AAA Ca appears to be effective for increasing BMD in elderly subjects.

Seaweeds in Human Health

“…The same amount of calcium provided by calcium carbonate had no significant effect in comparison with placebo (Fujita et al, 1996). To our knowledge, there are only a few clinical trials published in this field.…”

“…To our knowledge, there are only a few clinical trials published in this field. These effects were paralleled with a lower urinary calcium excretion (Fujita et al, 1996) and a decrease in bone degradation markers (Ohgitani et al, 1997). In a double-blind cross-over trial, a preparation of calcium from oyster shell and heated seaweed extract (Cystophyllum fusiforme), providing 900-mg Ca per day, was shown to increase lumbar spine bone density of 58-year-old postmenopausal women after 6 and 24 months of supplementation, when compared to placebo.…”

Seaweed and human health

“…Heated seaweed extract from Cystophyllum fusiforme proved effective in increasing BMD when added to active absorbable calcium from oyster shell powder in a range of populations with osteoporosis/osteopenia or at high risk of these conditions ( n = 137, n = 58, and n = 34 subjects) . Similarly, a mineralized seaweed product extracted from the red algae Lithothamnion calcareum exhibited beneficial effects in osteoarthritic patients, who reported decreased joint pain and increased mobility after supplementation ( n = 70 and 29 subjects) .…”

“…Though they did find that individuals with higher reported calcium intake had a lower risk of osteoporosis and osteopenia, they did not elaborate on the source of calcium in the diet, which could have been from seaweed consumption. Despite these findings, several intervention studies utilizing different species of seaweed have reported beneficial effects on markers of osteoporosis such as BMD, pain, and joint mobility, measured using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores, 6‐min walking distance, and range‐of‐motion assessments along with the comprehensive arthritis test …”

Fractional Absorption of Active Absorbable Algal Calcium (AAACa) and Calcium Carbonate Measured by a Dual Stable-Isotope Method

“…In the Katsuragi Calcium study, a prospective, randomized, double blind and placebo-controlled study compared the effect of AAACa on osteoporosis with that of CaCO 3 in hospitalized women with a mean age of 80 years. It was found that AAACa alone increased spinal bone mineral density significantly over the level in subjects given a placebo, whereas CaCO 3 did not [2,3]. Fracture occurrence over the two year test period from among 58 subjects was 0 of 5 in the AAACa Group, 2 of 7 in the CaCO 3 Group and 3 of 5 in the Placebo Group, on evaluation of all X-rays available at the beginning and end of the test period.…”