Lithothamnium Calcareum (红藻钙)
Lithothamnium calcareum (红藻钙)
Lithothamnion calcareum 是珊瑚科的海藻类，具有典型的微红色，因此也被称为红藻。它的叶状体坚硬，原因在于该细胞壁中含有大量的碳酸钙 1。红藻是一种典型的钙质藻类，它的钙、铝、硅、铁和钛的含量明显高于其他红藻类，钙含量占了其重量的31% 2,3。服用从红藻提取的钙提供更高的生物药效率以促进骨骼钙化，这也使它在市场上越来越受欢迎 1。
营养价值
Lithothamnion calcareum 是一种钙化红藻，含有碳酸钙、碳酸镁、铁、锌、氟、锰、钴、碘、褐藻酸盐和维生素C。碳酸盐形式的钙和镁容易被体内吸收，能确保充足的骨矿化及恢复体内的酸碱平衡 4。
健康益处
1. 缓解骨关节炎
红藻自身拥有抗炎功效。通过膳食补充红藻可助减轻膝骨关节炎患者的不适 5。
2. 血脂管理
研究发现，每天服用红藻有助降低低密度脂蛋白和总胆固醇水平 5。因为红藻中的钙能与胆汁酸结合，这将消耗大量的胆汁酸，间接地促进肝合成更多胆汁酸，以消耗胆固醇。这有助于降低低密度脂蛋白和总胆固醇 6。
3. 舒缓抑郁症
经常食用海藻可有效地减轻抑郁症状，同时降低成年人自杀的风险 7,8。这是因为海藻里富含了镁。镁可帮助神经讯息正常传递，有助于稳定情绪 8。
参考
1. Silva, P. D. R., Kawai, G. S. D., Andrade, F. R. D. D., Bezzon, V. D. N. & Ferraz, H. G. (2021). Characterisation and traceability of calcium carbonate from the seaweed Lithothamnium calcareum. Solids, 2: 192-211. https://doi.org/10.3390/ solids2020013
2. Desideri, D., Cantaluppi, C., Ceccotto, F., Meli, M. A., Roselli, C. & Feduzi, L. (2016). Essential and toxic elements in seaweeds for human consumption. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, 79 (3): 112-122. https://doi.org/10.1080/15287394.2015.1113598
3. Xu, Y., Ye, J., Zhou, D. & Su, L. (2020). Research progress on applications of calcium derived from marine organisms. Scientific Reports, 10 (18425): 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-75575-8
4. Flammini, L., Martuzzi, F., Vivo, V., Ghirri, A., Salomi, E., Bignetti, E. & Barocelli, E. (2016). Hake fish bone as a calcium source for efficient bone mineralization. Int J Food Sci Nutr, 67 (3): 265-273. https://doi.org/10.3109/09637486.2016.1150434
5. Zhang, Y., Tian, R., Wu, H., Li, X., Li, S. & Bian, L. (2020). Evaluation of acute and sub-chronic toxicity of Lithothamnium sp. In mice and rats. Toxicology Reports, 7: 852-858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.07.005
6. Cronin, B. E., Allsop, P. J., Slevin, M. M., Magee, P. J., Livingstone, M. B. E., Strain, J. J & McSorley, E. M. (2016). Effects of supplementation with a calcium-rich marine-derived multi-mineral supplement and short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides on serum lipids in postmenopausal women. British Journal of Nutrition, 115: 658-665. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114515004948
7. Miyake, Y., Tanaka, K., Okubo, H., Sasaki, S. & Arakawa, M. (2014). Seaweed consumption and prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy in Japan: Baseline data from the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 14 (301): 1-7. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2393/14/301
8. Tarleton, E. K., Littenberg, B., MacLean, C. D., Kennedy, A. G., & Daley, C. (2017). Role of magnesium supplementation in the treatment of depression: A randomized clinical trial. PLoS ONE, 12(6), e0180067. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180067
