Antihypertensive effects of sodium alginate oligosaccharides

Two types of alginate oligosaccharides (Na-AO and K-AO) were prepared by cl eavage of alginate polysaccharide with alginate lyase. In this study, the e ffects of these oligosaccharides on blood pressure of spontaneously hyperte nsive rats (SHRs) were investigated. In the Na-AO experiment, Na-AO and NaC l groups were fed a normal diet (CE-2, Clea Japan Inc.) containing 4.0% Na- AO or 1.2% NaCl by weight, respectively. In the K-AO experiment, K-AO and K Cl groups were fed CE-2 (control diet) containing 3.0% K-AO or 0.8% KCl by weight, respectively. Systolic blood pressure of the Na-AO group was signif icantly lower after 8 weeks, compared with the NaCl group. Systolic blood p ressure of the K-AO group was also lower than that of the control group, wh ile there was no significant difference between the KCI group and the contr ol group. These results suggest that feeding alginate oligosaccharides supp resses the increase in systolic blood pressure of SHR and that the sacchari de moiety itself may be closely related to the antihypertensive effect.