Seaweed for sun protection

[Guest]

CHEMICALS IN BROWN ALGAE MAY PROTECT AGAINST SKIN CANCER

COLUMBUS , Ohio – Substances extracted from a marine seaweed may protect against skin cancer caused by too much sun, new research suggests.

The animal study indicates that chemicals called brown algae polyphenols (BAPs), which are found in a type of brown marine seaweed, might protect against skin cancers caused by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation.

UVB radiation in sunlight is thought responsible for 90 percent of the estimated 1.3 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosed in the United States annually.

Researchers applied the BAPs to the skin of hairless mice and fed it to the animals in their diet. In both cases, the substances reduced the number of skin tumors by up to 60 percent and their size by up to 43 percent. They also reduced inflammation.

The study, led by researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, is published in the Dec. 15 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.

“These compounds seemed to be dramatically effective at fairly low doses both orally and topically,” says principal investigator Gary D. Stoner, professor emeritus of internal medicine and a cancer chemoprevention researcher.

“These findings suggest that, even when eaten, these compounds get to skin cells and neutralize the cancer-causing oxygen radicals that are produced by UV exposure.”

Laboratory research has shown that BAPs are strong antioxidants and may have anticancer properties.

For this study, Stoner and his collaborators used a strain of hairless mice that are particularly susceptible to UVB-induced skin cancer. Nine experimental groups were used, each with 20 mice.

In two groups, BAPs were applied to the skin in concentrations of 3 milligrams or 6 milligrams in a mild solvent. In two other groups, BAPs made up 0.1 percent or 0.5 percent of the diet.

A group of untreated control mice was also exposed to UVB.

The remaining groups were additional controls: Two were fed the standard diet with and without UV exposure, and two had the BAP solvent applied to the skin with and without UV exposure.

The mice received the BAPs for two weeks before UVB exposure began, followed by 24 weeks of increasing UVB exposure according to a standardized schedule.

The researchers then counted the number of tumors in the treatment and control groups and calculated their size.

Animals exposed only to UVB developed an average of 8.5 skin tumors. The animals fed the lower and the higher dose of BAPs developed an average of 4.7 and 3.7 tumors respectively. Of those given the topical treatment, the lower and higher doses developed 3.4 and 4.6 tumors respectively.

In terms of tumor volume, the animals fed BAPs at the lower and higher doses had tumors that were 34 percent and 40 percent smaller than those in animals exposed to UVB alone. Of those given the topical treatment, the lower and higher dose animals had tumors that were 27 percent to 43 percent smaller than animals exposed to UVB alone.

In addition, the researchers compared the groups for skin levels of the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and of the hormone-like substance prostaglandin E2, both of which are strong indicators of inflammation, and for cell proliferation rates.

Animals treated with BAPs showed lower levels of both COX-2 and prostaglandin E2.

The researchers found that the dietary BAPs reduced COX-2 activity by 74-82 percent, and that the topical BAPs reduced it by 66-82 percent. They also measured lower rates of cell proliferation in BAP-treated animals.

“Both the oral and topical BAP treatment reduced COX-2 and prostaglandin E2 cell proliferation levels in the skin,” Stoner says, “which corresponds with fewer tumors and small tumors in the treated animals.”

Source: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/brwnalga.htm

For you Stoners too lazy to read all of that, Dr Stoner (Yeah, I like his name too) did research and found that taking a substance found in seaweed can help protect against a form of skin cancer caused by too much sun.

In his study he found resistance of sun induced type of skin cancer by 60% both in topical (applied to skin) or consuming the seaweed chemical called brown algae polyphenols (BAPs) in hairless mice.

In sum, eat your seaweed and keep your eyes open for new sun screen lotion containing seaweed, especially if you live in sunny regions or are out in the sun alot.

 

[Boxy Brown]

I prefer to just stay inside and avoid sun exposer as much as possible.

 

[Guest]

They've done studies that show staying inside is worse for you... The medical establishment has made the sun out to be a devil...making people fear the sun! The sun is what sustains us!!!!!!!!!!

The fact is we all need at least 30 minutes a day, preferably 2 hours of sunlight. That is, unfiltered. We need those awesome spectrums of energy from the sun...through our skin and mainly through our eyes. The energy of the sun is like a sparkplug to human metabolism...

Its how I wake up every morning now. I just go outside and sit... and just look around... its amazing how it can just wake ya up...

Oh and its been known for awhile that what you eat can offer you protection from the sun. Things like fruits and veggies help...

So get ya sunshine! Don't stay inside on your computer all day its just horrible and you'll get in a downward spiral... enLIGHTen yourself..

 

[Boxy Brown]

The fact is we all need at least 30 minutes a day, preferably 2 hours of sunlight. That is, unfiltered. We need those awesome spectrums of energy from the sun...through our skin and mainly through our eyes. The energy of the sun is like a sparkplug to human metabolism...

have fun with skin cancer and cataracts because thats what will happen to you.

 

[Guest]

Actually, there are studies showing people who are inside the most are the ones that get skin cancer, because they aren't used to the sunlight. Look that up. It makes sense.

Its probably wise to not get too much sunlight during the peak hours, but your going to be a healthier and happier person if you get sunlight everyday... And possibly less risk of cancer overall..

 

[Space Ghost]

why dont you just wear sunscreen and a hat?

 

[Boxy Brown]

I know a guy who owned an orange grove and he did work outside everyday for many years and guess what he got skin cancer all over the top half of his body.

 

[Guest]

Okay... well I was also going to say that getting sun ALL day isn't good. But its better to get some sunlight, then NONE at all...

The bad thing is getting burned too...

I try to just get out in the morning sometime...and then again in the afternoon. It really keeps me functioning better. They say being in artificial light too long is actually stressful to the body.

 

[Verite]

I found people look at me strange when I wear the seaweed.