Sea Cucumber – is it really such a nutritional bomb?

Sea Cucumber has received a lot of attention in recent years, and for good reasons.

Is it the nutritional content, regenerative properties or are possibilities for medical use? In this article, we explain to the best of our ability what this seemingly ordinary invertebrate has to offer.

Sea Cucumber species classification

Sea Cucumber is a species under the echinoderm category that contains starfish and sea urchins. They are marine animals with leathery skin, elastic body without skeleton. The skin has a series of calcareous scales and a strong inner muscle sac. The main axis (digestion) is parallel to the substrate, which distinguishes it from many other echinoderms. Sea urchins feed on plankton and organic matter on the seabed.

Geography

In Scandinavia, Red and Brown Seacucumber are the most common types. Brown species lives in shallow water along the Norwegian coast.

In deeper water it is common to find red Sea Cucumber, which can be as long as 50 cm!

The species’ natural habitat is on the seabed all over the world, but the largest ptheopulation is found in the Pacific Ocean.

In many Asian countries they are considered a delicacy, and they have actually been fished for over 170 years (1). In Asia, they are collected by divers or commercially farmed in large artificial ponds.

Where do we know Sea Cucumber from?

In addition to it’s culinary appeal, Seacucumber is used in traditional Asian folk medicine to treat a wide range of ailments(2).

In the Western world, it is just in recent we have years discovered Sea Cucumber as a food, and potentially interesting for medicine.

And among others, Møreforskning, by Research Leader Margareth Kjerstad has devoted considerable attention to it.

How is it used?

Sea Cucumber has been used as a food source in Asia and the Middle East for centuries. They are prepared either fresh or dried in various dishes, of which dried is the most used.

Dried Sea Cucumber, known as beche-de-mer or trepang, is rehydrated and added to recipes such as soups, stews and roasts.

Sea Cucumber can also be eaten raw, pickled or fried. They have a smooth texture and dry taste, so they are usually flavored with other ingredients such as meat, other seafood or spices.

It is also used as a nutritional supplement. Sea Cucumber contains many nutrients that have a beneficial effect on the body and health.

In Asia, creams, tinctures, oils and cosmetics infused with sea urchin extract, as well as liquid supplements, are popular in the cosmetic industry.

Nutritional content of Sea Cucumber:

• Four ounces (112 grams) of item (3):
• Calories: 60
• Protein: 14 grams
• Fat: less than one gram
• Vitamin A: 8% of the RDI
• B2 (Riboflavin): 60% of the RDI
• B3 (Niacin): 16% of the RDI
• Calcium: 4% of the RDI
• Magnesium: 4% of the RDI

Sea Cucumber has a very low number of calories and a high percentage of fat and protein – which can make it beneficial for people who want to lose weight through diet (4, 5).

It also contains many potent nutrients, including antioxidants, that are good for your health. Adding protein sources such as Sea Cucumber, in the diet and/or as a dietary supplement, can help regulate bowel movements.

This can also contribute to lower general food intake and stabilize blood sugar levels (6).

Foods rich in protein can be particularly beneficial for people with diabetes who want to control blood sugar levels (7). Plus, a protein-rich diet can improve blood circulation, help lower blood pressure and improve bone density (8, 9).

Many beneficial connections

Sea Cucumber has something as rare as 7 out of 8 essential amino acids.

Not only are Sea Cucumbers packed with protein, vitamins and minerals, they also contain several substances that can benefit your overall health.

For example, they contain phenol and flavonoid antioxidants, which have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body (10, 11, 12).

Diets rich in these substances are linked to a reduced risk of many chronic diseases, including heart disease and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease (13, 14, 15).

They are also rich in compounds called triterpene glycosides, which have antifungal, antitumoral and immune-enhancing properties (16).

In addition, these marine animals are very high in chondroitin sulfate, an important component of human connective tissue found in cartilage and bone(17).

There are indications that foods and dietary supplements containing chondroitin sulfate may benefit people with joint diseases such as osteoarthritis(18).

Sea Cucumber also has another set of very interesting properties.

It contains an unusually large number of nutrients.
A natural explanation for this is the diet, which consists of organic waste on the seabed, which in turn also provides a strong immune system.

It has the ability to regenerate lost parts of the body.
When attacked, the Sea Cucumber can dispose of large e parts of intestines and other viscera. These later grow back and enable the animal to escape

Potential health benefits
Sea Cucumber has, through traditional folk and natural medicine, and through research in recent years, been linked to several potential health benefits. Although it is too early to conclude anything yet, some research has been done which has produced interesting results.

Indications of cancer-fighting properties
Sea Cucumber contains substances called cytotoxins, which have been shown to fight cancer cells. For example, a test tube study showed that triterpene diglycosides found in Vietnamese Sea Cucumbers had a toxic effect on five types of cancer cells, including breast cancer, prostate and skin cancer cells (19).

Another study found
that Ds-echinoside, a type of triterpene derived from Sea Cucumber, reduced the spread and growth of human liver cancer cells (20). Although these results are promising, more research is needed to determine the efficacy and safety of using sea cucumber to fight cancer cells.

Possible antimicrobial properties in Sea Cucumber
A number of test-tube studies have shown that Sea Cucumber extract eliminates the growth of bacteria, including E. coli, S. aureus, and S. typhi, all of which can cause disease (21).

Another study showed that the Sea Cucumbers can fight Candida albicans, an opportunistic yeast that can cause infections if levels get out of control, especially in immunocompromised people (22).

A one-week study in 17 elderly nursing home patients with an overgrowth of oral Candida (fungal infection in the mouth) showed that those who used a jelly-containing Sea Cucumber extract experienced a reduction in the overgrowth, compared to those who did not eat the jelly (23).

In addition, a study in rats showed that Sea Cucumber combated sepsis, a life-threatening complication associated with harmful bacteria (24).

Heart disease
Several animal experiments have shown that Sea Cucumber can improve heart and liver health. For example, rats with high blood pressure that were fed Sea Cucumber extract showed a significant reduction in blood pressure, compared to rats that were not fed the extract (25).

Another study in young rats showed that a diet rich in Sea Cucumber significantly reduced total cholesterol (26).

Furthermore, a study in rats with hepatorenal disease showed that a single dose of Sea Cucumber extract reduced oxidative stress and liver damage, as well as improved liver and kidney function (27).

In summary,
based on animal research, there are indications that Sea Cucumber can fight cancer cells, inhibit harmful bacteria and improve heart health.

However, more human studies are needed before conclusions about the Sea Cucumber’s potential health benefits can be made.

Potential side effects of Sea Cucumber
While Sea Cucumber has been consumed around the world for centuries, it is considered relatively safe. But the Sea Cucumbers are in the same family as Sea Urchins and starfish, and should be avoided by people who are allergic to shellfish.

While some animal studies support their use for treating cancer, heart disease and bacterial infections, human research in these areas is limited. Human studies are needed to learn more about the safety and effectiveness of Sea Cucumber.

In addition, increasing global demand has led to a decrease in the stock. These species play an important role in the ecosystem, and have been greatly affected by unsustainable fishing methods. To ensure that the populations remain at a healthy level, it should be agreed to choose sustainable methods such as fish farms or regulated fishing (29).

Summary

Sea Cucumber is an interesting animal that has a great culinary tradition and potentially several interesting medicinal uses.

They are a particularly nutritious source of protein that is beneficial for both weight loss and the intake of nutrients from the sea.

Although more research is needed before conclusions can be drawn, there are indications that it may have a number of health benefits.