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The underestimated ergogenic potential of Ecklonia cava
Ecklonia cava is a brown seaweed that contains unique polyphenols called phlorotannins; its potential is being studied by the industry, and we find them in some thermogenic supplements for health—but do they help athletic performance?
Why don’t athletes use Ecklonia cava when thinking about their muscle mass or performance? Well, this question occurred to researchers when they realized how inexpensive Ecklonia supplements are and compared their ergogenic effects on athletic performance at relatively modest doses, which have been demonstrated in human studies.
Ecklonia cava is an edible seaweed that grows in the oceans around Japan and South Korea. Extracts made from it have been found to contain polyphenols such as phloroglucinol, eckol, phloroeckol, dieckol, and bieckol. These phenols are also called phlorotannins; the industry uses phlorotannins in weight-loss supplements, products intended to improve insulin management, and pre-workout formulas.
In 2017, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) decided that supplements containing phlorotannins from Ecklonia cava are safe for human use and may be marketed. According to this organization, adults may consume a maximum of 263 milligrams per day and adolescents 163 milligrams per day, but this is not what we mean when discussing its potential.
Ecklonia cava and performance
Ten years ago, Korean scientists experimented with phlorotannins in 20 active recreational athletes. On two occasions, the researchers determined the athletes’ endurance by having them run on a treadmill. On one occasion, the athletes received a placebo half an hour before the test, and on the other they received a supplement containing 72 milligrams of Ecklonia cava extract. The supplement improved running time by 25%; the conclusions also noted that it did not significantly increase oxygen uptake.
After the tests, however, the researchers found more glucose and less lactate in the athletes’ blood when they had received the Ecklonia cava extract. In this context, the Korean scientists suspect that the supplement stimulates fatty acid burning or accelerates lactate clearance.
In alternative medicine, Ecklonia cava extract is promoted as a natural remedy for the following health conditions: arthritis, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, fibromyalgia, and even insomnia. In addition, some studies report that it stimulates the immune system and reduces chronic stress levels, which together may support athletes in increasing and maintaining performance.
Ultimately, this study demonstrated the effect of Ecklonia cava polyphenols on endurance performance for the first time. Although the study does not mention sponsorship, it is thought that the industry, through its companies, has been adding extracts of this brown seaweed to its products for this reason, and not only because it could be a fat-burning supplement.