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Integrative, Alternative & Complementary Medicine, Second Edition

Cystoseira canariensis

by EBSCO CAM Review Board

Category: Herbs and supplements

Related term: Brown seaweed

Definition: Natural plant product used to treat specific health conditions.

Principal proposed use: Sports and fitness performance enhancement

Overview

Because of the high emotional stakes involved in both amateur and professional sports, pharmaceutical and supplement manufacturers continually seek to find products that might add a competitive edge. Findings from test-tube studies suggested that an extract of the brown seaweed Cystoseira canariensis might inhibit a substance in the body called myostatin.

Therapeutic Dosages

A typical dose of cystoseira is 1,200 milligrams (mg) per day, often divided into three doses.

Therapeutic Uses

Myostatin inhibits the growth of muscle cells. It is believed that some animals, and some people, produce relatively less myostatin and therefore develop stronger muscles even without much exercise. Consider chimpanzees that live in a cage but are nonetheless much stronger than similarly sized humans. If a substance could be discovered that effectively blocks the action of myostatin, that substance might logically be hypothesized to aid muscle growth. Therefore, based on findings that can only be characterized as far too preliminary to rely upon, cystoseira became a widely marketed sports supplement.

Scientific Evidence

Despite the foregoing test-tube findings, it is a very long way from test tube evidence to real benefits. The vast majority of effects seen in the test tube do not ultimately translate into an effective treatment. To truly determine whether a treatment works, it must undergo human trials, specifically, one type of trial: the double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Only one such study has been performed on cystoseira, and it failed to find any benefits.

In this twelve-week double-blind study, twenty-two males were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or 1,200 mg per day of cystoseira. Both groups underwent intensive resistance training (weight lifting) for the duration of the trial. The results showed no difference in outcome between the treatment and the placebo groups. Although a single study cannot prove lack of efficacy, this outcome does clearly demonstrate that cystoseira has been brought to market prematurely.

Safety Issues

Cystoseira is thought to be a safe, foodlike substance. No serious adverse effects were seen in the human study described above. However, comprehensive safety testing has not been performed. Maximum safe doses in pregnant or nursing women, young children, and people with liver or kidney disease have not been determined.

See also: Herbal medicine; Sports and fitness support: Enhancing performance

Further Reading

1 

Carey, Elea. “Why Is Brown Seaweed Good for You?” Healthline, 28 July 2016, www.healthline.com/health/why-is-brown-seaweed-good-for-you.

2 

Jacques, Helene. “Brown Seaweed Extract on Glycemic Control and Body Weight.” ClinicalTrials.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 9 Mar. 2017, clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03075943.

3 

Searby, Lynda. “Brown Seaweed Extract Battles Cancer.” NutraIngredients, William Reed Business Media Ltd., 30 Nov. 2015, www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2015/11/30/Brown-seaweed-extract-battles-cancer.

4 

Wong, Cathy. “The Health Benefits of Brown Seaweed.” Verywell Health, 17 July 2019, www.verywellhealth.com/the-benefits-of-brown-seaweed-89551.

Citation Types

Type
Format
MLA 9th
"Cystoseira Canariensis." Integrative, Alternative & Complementary Medicine, Second Edition, edited by Paul Moglia, Salem Press, 2020. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=CAM2e_0218.
APA 7th
Cystoseira canariensis. Integrative, Alternative & Complementary Medicine, Second Edition, In P. Moglia (Ed.), Salem Press, 2020. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=CAM2e_0218.
CMOS 17th
"Cystoseira Canariensis." Integrative, Alternative & Complementary Medicine, Second Edition, Edited by Paul Moglia. Salem Press, 2020. Salem Online, online.salempress.com/articleDetails.do?articleName=CAM2e_0218.