What Are the Health Benefits of Sea Cucumber?
Dec 8, 2010 | By
Robert Shifko has more than 17 years' experience in the health care industry. Throughout his career, he has gained experience in pharmacologic research, clinical nuclear medicine, and most recently radiation health physics. He has obtained several certifications in nuclear medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics and as a medical radiation safety officer. He has always supported LIVESTRONG. |
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The sea cucumber is a marine animal with leathery skin and an elongated body that resembles the cucumber vegetable. Sea cucumbers are found worldwide on sea floors. The majority of sea cucumbers are obtained for human consumption. According to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, sea cucumbers are rich in many mucopolysaccharides, saponins and fatty acids, which promote many health benefits when consumed by humans.
Reduce Arthritis Pain
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center states that the sea cucumber is very rich in the mucopolysaccharide chondroitin sulfate. Chondroitin sulfate is commonly used as an over-the-counter treatment for arthritis pain. A study published by Daniel O. Clegg M.D. in 2006 issue of "The New England Journal of Medicine" confirms that the consumption of chrondroitin sulfate was effective in reducing arthritis pain in the group of study subjects with moderate to severe arthritis pain. The results of this study directly links the effectiveness of sea cucumber for treatment of arthritis pain due to the high concentration of chondroitin sulfate.
Cancer Cell Death
Recent scientific studies have also revealed that some extracts obtained from the sea cucumber are effective in treating some forms of cancer. A study published by Alexandra B. Roginsky M.D. in July 2010 issue of "Journal of Neuroendocrine Tumors and Pancreatic Diseases and Sciences" revealed that extracts from an edible, non-toxic sea cucumber effectively caused cell damage and cell death in human pancreatic cancer cells. The result of this study are encouraging for the sea cucumber as a dietary treatment or prevention of pancreatic cancer.
Wound Healing
Scientific research also suggests that the fatty acids contained within the sea cucumber are valuable for tissue repair and wound healing. The specific fatty acids contained within the sea cucumber which are essential for wound healing are oleic, palmitic, linoleic, stearic, arachidic, myristic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. A study performed at the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Universiti Kebangasaan Malaysia in Malaysia extracted and analyzed the fatty acid composition of the sea cucumber. Extracts of the sea cucumber were analyzed in four different solvents. The results of the study that the fatty acids responsible for tissue repair remained intact in all four solvents. These results confirm the claim that the sea cucumber contains all the fatty acids necessary for effective tissue repair and wound healing.
References
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Sea Cucumber
- "The New England Journal of Medicine": Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and the Two in Combination For Painful Knee Osteoarthritis
- "Journal of Neuroendocrine Tumors and Pancreatic Diseases and Sciences" : Anti-Pancreatic Cancer Effects of a Polar Extract From the Edible Sea Cucumber, Cucumaria frondosa
- PubMed.gov: Fatty Acid Compositions in Local Sea Cucumber, Stichopus Chloronotus, for Wound Healing
- "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry: Compositional Characteristics and Antioxidant Properties of Fresh and Processed Sea Cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa)
http://www.livestrong.com/article/328558-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-sea-cucumber/
