(NaturalNews) A French nutraceuticals company has announced the launch of an algae extract product intended to reduce the hardening of arteries. Diana Naturals' HealSea is an extract of Fucus vesiculosus, a brown algae. According to the company, the extract has been shown in clinical trials to increase the body's production of aortic nitric oxide, which helps dilate blood vessels. It has also been shown to relax blood vessels and to discourage the formation of blood clots.
In a study carried out on rats,
animals fed the algae extract were more resistant to the oxidation of their LDL ("good")
cholesterol than animals not given the extract. In another study, animals that had their diets supplemented with HealSea had almost 20 times less plaque formation in the aortic luminal area of their hearts than other animals.
In a clinical trial on human participants, those who were given a 500 milligram HealSea supplement each day had significantly higher levels of vitamin C in their
blood after 21 and 42 days than participants who were given a placebo
algae extract instead.
Studies on HealSea have been carried out by the company, in conjunction with the Centre d'Etude et de Volorisation des Algues en Bretagne, the University of Barcelona and the University of Milan. More clinical
studies on humans are planned for 2008 with France's Centre d'Enseignement et de Recherche en Nutrition.
HealSea is available as either a water-soluble powder or as a tablet. Diana Naturals guarantees that the product contains at least 11 percent phlorogucinol, a type of polyphenol. It is part of the company's Phytonutriance line, which includes
weight management and weight loss products.
While atherosclerosis, or the hardening of
arteries, is a natural part of the aging process, it can
lead to heart disease in more extreme cases. Atherosclerosis can be accelerated by risk factors such as poor
diet (which leads to high cholesterol, high blood pressure or obesity), smoking or diabetes.
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