ECE is unique in many ways. It is estimated that Ecklonia Cava Extract is between 10 to 100 times more powerful in antioxidant activity than green tea extract. Ecklonia Cava Extract is unique in that it is 40% fat soluble, which allows it to be universal in its effects on the body. Also, ECE stays in the blood for up to 12 hours per dose, significantly longer than compounds extracted from land-based plants. It has an ORAC value of approximately 8,300 μ mol TE/100g.

Ecklonia Cava Extract is known as a “superantioxidant”.  Its polyphenols have up to eight interconnecting rings, compared to the four rings of green tea catechins.  This contributes to its powerful free-radical scavenging ability.  Also, it has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Ecklonia Cava Extract is thought to have a unique radical scavenging ability against Peroxynitrite.  This free radical has been linked to a variety of conditions: fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue syndrome, and many more.  ECE also demonstrates activity against oxidized LDL and contains other important inflammatory mediators.

In an eight-week, double-blind, placebo controlled study, Ecklonia Cava Extract demonstrated profound benefits in a group of established fibromyalgia patients.  It reduced the time it took participants to fall asleep, and increased overall nighttime sleep.  It improved soundness of sleep and boosted energy levels.  Study participants also reported more good days per week, reduced pain, and an improvement in their general condition.

ECE also shows promise in aiding in weight loss and fighting obesity.  Ecklonia Cava Extract reduced body fat and increased physical activity in obese laboratory rats.  In a study of young adults given an ECE-containing beverage, they reported increased muscle mass and lowered body fat.  It also has been shown to contain compounds capable of promoting healthy cholesterol levels, providing cardiovascular protection, and scavenging free radicals in the bloodstream.

Improvements in brain function have also been demonstrated with subjects given ECE – notably, memory, relaxation, and alertness.  It has been shown to increase blood flow in the carotid artery, increase alpha waves in the brain, and prevent sleepiness during daytime activities.  Ecklonia Cava Extract has been shown to protect neural sells and enhance brain activity in regions related to memory formation. In a rat study, ECE inhibited beta-amyloid formation in the brain, a substance which accumulates in Alzheimer’s disease.

Many other benefits of Ecklonia Cava Extract have been studied.  The unique compounds in ECE have been shown to aid with a variety of conditions, such as arthritis, inflammation, allergies, asthma, erectile disfunction, and diabetes.  As this fascinating substance continues to be researched, even more benefits may reveal themselves.

The compounds in ECE have been found to inhibit the enzyme Diacylglycerol acetyl transferase (DGAT), which is involved in intestinal fat absorption, lipoprotein assembly, regulation of plasma TG concentration, fat storage in adipocytes, and energy metabolism in muscle. DGAT is helps to synthesize fat bodies circulate throughout the bloodstream and end up contributing to building fat cells. Inhibition of DGAT has recently been recognized as a potential target for the treatment of obesity.

In one study, Ecklonia Cava Extract inhibited DGAT by more than 50%, and in obese lab rats, it reduced body fat and increased physical activity. In another study on animals given a high fat diet, Ecklonia Cava Extract contributed to fat resistance and leanness.

In a study on humans, 141 young adults were given a beverage containing 200 milligrams of Ecklonia Cava Extract once daily. After two weeks, the subjects showed these improvements, on average: a weight loss of 2.5 pounds, an increase in muscle mass of 2.5 pounds, and a 4 pound drop in body fat.

Ecklonia Cava Extract: Preliminary Phase I Clinical Trial Results

Ecklonia Cava Extract was used in an eight-week, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of established fibromyalgia patients, as an adjunct therapy to their current standard of physician care.  First, the results established the general safety of the extract.  The study also reported several benefits.

According to the study results, ECE demonstrated the following benefits:

• It cut the time it took the participants to fall asleep by 47 minutes
• It increased total nighttime sleep by 1.6 hours
• It improved soundness of sleep by 80%
• It boosted their energy levels by 71%
• It gave them 2 1/4 more good days per week
• It helped reduce their pain by 31%
• It improved their general condition by 39%.

Interestingly, these improvements were achieved at all doses, while patients given the placebo showed no improvement.

Criticisms of the Trial Results

However, not everyone has been convinced by the clinical trial results.  According to a consumer alert by the Fibromyalgia Network, the study was severely flawed.  The following criticisms were levied against the results:

• Only 36 fibromyalgia patients were involved in the clinical trial
• Only six of the 36 patients took a placebo
• Placebo patients only took the placebo for two weeks; the group taking Fibronol took the supplement for 60 days
• There is no formal publication of the results in a medical journal.

Antecdotal Support for ECE

We feel that although the study cannot strongly support ECE as a fibromyalgia treatment, the criticisms of the study do not necessarily prove that it does not work.  In fact, products containing Fibronol and Fibroboost have received many positive reviews on online retailer websites such as iHerb.com and various Internet forums.  Many of these testimonials came from fibromyalgia patients.  Such strong antecdotal support suggests that if you suffer from fibromyalgia, Ecklonia Cava Extract may be at least worth trying for a period of time to see if your symptoms are reduced.

ECE is a marine-based polyphenol which is 40% fat-soluble, making it unique compared to other antioxidants.  The half-life of Ecklonia Cava Extract in the body lasts up to twelve hours.  Compare this to the typical 30 minute half-life for water-soluble, land-based polyphenols.  Ecklonia Cava Extract can cross the blood-brain barrier.

Martin Pall, Ph.D. has researched fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, Gulf War syndrome, post traumatic stress disorder, and fourteen other conditions. Dr. Pall has identified peroxynitrite is the most damaging of the free radicals studied.  Ecklonia Cava Extract has demonstrated potent reducing power and radical scavenging activities against peroxynitrite, DPPH radicals, and oxidized LDLs.  NF-kappaB and other inflammatory mediators also play an important role in Dr. Pall’s mechanism. ECE reduces tissue specific NF-kappaB.  Incorrect regulation of NF-κB has been linked to cancer, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, septic shock, viral infection, and improper immune development.

• Functions as a super antioxidant
• Helps with fibromyalgia
• Helps with weight loss & obesity
• Provides cardiovascular benefits
• Assists in brain function: memory, relaxation, and alertness
• Helps with arthritis, inflammation, and neuralgia
• Helps with allergies & asthma
• Helps with erectile dysfunction
• Helps with diabetes