A few years ago, I came across a study discussing how carrageenans can assist the body in combating cancer, particularly prostate cancer. I remember it clearly, and I’ve noticed that the food industry has been removing this additive from many products, which I believe correlates with the increase in prostate cancer cases. I’ve tried to locate that study again but without any success. However, I did find other research studies, which I’ve included in annotated format within this write-up.
Carrageenan is a natural polysaccharide extracted from red seaweeds, including sea moss (Chondrus crispus), also known as Irish moss. It is widely used in the food industry for its gelling, thickening, and stabilizing properties. Sea moss itself is rich in nutrients and has been traditionally consumed for its potential health benefits, such as supporting respiratory health and boosting the immune system. The carrageenan extracted from sea moss retains some of these benefits, including prebiotic effects that promote gut health and improve immune responses. Additionally, carrageenan has antioxidant properties that help combat oxidative stress, contributing to overall well-being. Beyond its functional role in food, carrageenan’s health-supporting properties make it a valuable component of a balanced diet. For more information, begin your research with the following articles (Healthline: Should You Remove Carrageenan from Your Diet?; FactDr: Carrageenan: Safety, Benefits, Side-Effects, Foods, & Allergy).
If you have concerns about kappa carrageenan, feel free to avoid it. Personally, I see no issues with it and am actually looking for more ways to incorporate it into my diet. I feel it is important to say that no one needs a large dose of carrageenan (We must use it in moderate amounts). It seems there’s a troubling trend to demonize substances that can help us fight diseases, while promoting items that may not be as beneficial, like coffee, black pepper, and canola oil, which are often touted by reputable health sources. Meanwhile, beneficial items like soybeans, certain herbal teas (comfrey/chaparral), and carrageenan have faced negative media attention. It is beyond funny to me that while folks rave about the helpful benefits of sea moss, from which carrageenan is derived, they vilify a food-grade extraction of it.
I have indeed read studies indicating that carrageenan from seaweeds can help prevent various cancers, especially prostate cancer, but I didn’t save those studies at the time. I encourage anyone reading this to share any studies you’ve found that challenge the common narrative about carrageenan. Don’t just rely on popular websites for your information; dig deeper to uncover the truth! You might discover that many things you thought were harmful are actually beneficial, and vice versa. Let’s work together to spread the message that carrageenan isn’t the villain it’s made out to be but rather a helpful ally in detoxifying the body. Remember, drinking plenty of water is crucial when consuming it, as it acts as a gelling fiber. Follow the Eight Laws of Health, and make sure to stay hydrated!
Now, let’s get into the research… but first, an article “Carrageenan; It’s Just a Component of Seaweed and It Won’t Give You Cancer” by Jaime Underwood at Edible Chemistry Consulting may help you understand how carrageenan made its way to getting a bad rep. Please read it when you have the time. I’ve included several other research studies and papers below in annotated bibliography format to get you started on this for yourself. Within these studies is a critical review of other studies done on how this antiviral component may actually inhibit coronavirus. Folks, this critical review ends by saying that other studies are needed to address carrageenan’s efficacy; yet, I can’t help but wonder if this is also part of the okey-doke. I’m not going to judge you on this because you are in charge of your own body and should thoroughly research (focusing on genuine peer-reviewed studies rather than industry-sponsored ones, which often skew the research agenda and results due to corporate influences ) what goes into it.
Annotated Bibliography: Carrageenan and Cancer Prevention
American Chemical Society. (2005, March 14). Carrageenans. Molecule of the Week Archive. Retrieved from https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/c/carrageenans.html
This source provides a fundamental understanding of carrageenan, including its chemical structure and applications. It does not directly discuss its role in cancer prevention but establishes a basis for its biological significance.
Yuan, H., Song, J., Li, X., Li, N., & Dai, J. (2006). Immunomodulation and antitumor activity of kappa-carrageenan oligosaccharides. Cancer Letters, 243(2), 228-234. doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2005.11.032
This study highlights how kappa-carrageenan oligosaccharides stimulate the immune system, enhancing tumor cell apoptosis. The findings suggest that carrageenan-derived compounds may serve as potential cancer therapeutics by activating immune responses and inhibiting tumor growth (Yuan et al., 2006).
Liu, M., Yu, S., Wang, Y., Jin, Y., & Zhang, X. (2017). Immunomodulation and antitumor activity of [kappa]-carrageenan oligosaccharides. Marine Drugs, 15(6), 168. doi:10.3390/md15060168
As a follow-up to Yuan et al. (2006), this research further confirms the immunomodulatory effects of kappa-carrageenan oligosaccharides. The study shows that carrageenan enhances cytokine production, which aids in tumor suppression.
Raman, M., & Doble, M. (2015). κ-Carrageenan from marine red algae, Kappaphycus alvarezii – A functional food to prevent colon carcinogenesis. Journal of Functional Foods, 15, 354-364. doi:10.1016/j.jff.2015.03.039
This article examines the potential of κ-carrageenan as a dietary supplement to prevent colon cancer. The researchers found that carrageenan reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in the colon, both of which are linked to carcinogenesis (Raman & Doble, 2015).
McKim, J. M., Baas, H., Rice, G. P., Willoughby, J. A., Weiner, M. L., & Blakemore, W. (2016). Effects of carrageenan on cell permeability, cytotoxicity, and cytokine gene expression in human intestinal and hepatic cell lines. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 96, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2016.07.006
This study explores the interaction of carrageenan with human cell lines. While primarily focused on safety, it notes that carrageenan’s ability to modulate cytokine expression may contribute to its anticancer effects by enhancing immune responses (McKim et al., 2016).
Suganya, A. M., Sanjivkumar, M., Chandran, M. N., Palavesam, A., & Immanuel, G. (2016). Pharmacological importance of sulphated polysaccharide carrageenan from red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii in comparison with commercial carrageenan. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 84, 1300-1312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2016.10.067
This research identifies the bioactive properties of carrageenan, demonstrating its potential role in reducing tumor proliferation. It suggests that sulfated polysaccharides in carrageenan contribute to apoptosis and hinder cancer cell migration.
McKim, J. M., Willoughby Sr., J. A., Blakemore, W. R., & Weiner, M. L. (2019). Clarifying the confusion between poligeenan, degraded carrageenan, and carrageenan: A review of the chemistry, nomenclature, and in vivo toxicology by the oral route. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 59(19), 3054-3073. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2018.1481822
This review addresses misconceptions about carrageenan’s safety and differentiates it from degraded carrageenan (poligeenan). It highlights studies supporting carrageenan’s role in immune modulation, which may contribute to its anticancer potential.
Liu, Z., Gao, T., Yang, Y., Meng, F., Zhan, F., Jiang, Q., & Sun, X. (2019). Anti-Cancer Activity of Porphyran and Carrageenan from Red Seaweeds. Molecules, 24(23), 4286. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24234286
This study explores the mechanisms by which carrageenan and porphyran exhibit anticancer properties. The results indicate that carrageenan suppresses cancer cell proliferation by interfering with cell signaling pathways involved in tumor growth (Liu et al., 2019).
Frediansyah, A. (2021). The antiviral activity of iota-, kappa-, and lambda-carrageenan against COVID-19: A critical review. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 12, 100826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2021.100826
This review discusses the antiviral potential of different forms of carrageenan. While primarily focused on viral infections, the study supports the idea that carrageenan’s immune-enhancing properties could contribute to its role in cancer prevention. Notably, it suggests that carrageenan may suppress coronavirus replication.
Fröba, M., Große, M., Setz, C., Rauch, P., Auth, J., et al. (2021). Iota-Carrageenan Inhibits Replication of SARS-CoV-2 and the Respective Variants of Concern Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(24), 13202. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222413202
This study provides additional evidence of carrageenan’s bioactive properties, reinforcing its role in modulating immune responses. It specifically highlights carrageenan’s ability to suppress coronavirus replication.
Bovard, D., van der Toorn, M., Schlage, W. K., Constant, S., Renggli, K., et al. (2022). Iota-carrageenan extracted from red algae is a potent inhibitor of SARS‐CoV-2 infection in reconstituted human airway epithelia. Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports, 29, 101187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrep.2021.101187
Although focused on viral infections, this study suggests that carrageenan’s immune-modulatory effects could have broader applications, including cancer prevention. It also emphasizes carrageenan’s ability to suppress coronavirus infections.
Underwood, J. (2019, May 2). Carrageenan: It’s Just a Component of Seaweed and It Won’t Give You Cancer. Edible Chemistry Consulting. Retrieved from https://edible-chemistry.com/news-notes/2019/5/2/carrageenan-its-just-a-component-of-seaweed-and-it-wont-give-you-cancer
This article addresses misconceptions about carrageenan’s safety and refutes claims that it is carcinogenic, supporting its continued use as a food additive.