At my arthritis website, I see increasing interest in the effects of octopus consumption. So I’ve started this overview of the effects of octopus nutrition on health and wellness. Then I will investigate specific illnesses and other wellness benefits in detail.
- Octopus and Cholesterol
- Octopus reduced liver consumption and increased fecal steroid excretion.
Tanaka K, Sakai T, Ikeda I, Imaizumi K, Sugano M. Effects of dietary shrimp, squid and octopus on serum and liver lipid levels in mice. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 1998 Jul;62(7):1369-75. PMID: 9720219.
Conclusion: shrimp, squid and octopus exerted hypolipidemic activity; the serum cholesterol-lowering activity of shrimp and squid was attributed to their lipid fraction, whereas the non-lipid fraction of shrimp, squid and octopus contributed to a reduction of hepatic cholesterol and an increase of fecal steroid excretion.
- Octopus Nutritional Elements
- Octopus is a large source of non-essential cadmium. But an important source of essential elements: selenium; copper; and zinc.
Storelli MM, Garofalo R, Giungato D, Giacominelli-Stuffler R. Intake of essential and non-essential elements from consumption of octopus, cuttlefish and squid. Food Addit Contam Part B Surveill. 2010;3(1):14-8. PMID: 24785311.
Conclusion: A 70-g serving of these mollusks was shown to provide a large contribution to Cd intake (0.89 µg kg(-1) body weight), corresponding to 35.6% of PTWI [Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake]. Concerning the essential elements, the consumption of these mollusks made an important contribution to daily dietary intake of Se, Cu and Zn.
- Octopus and Allergy
- This study adds to knowledge of compounds in octopus that cause allergic reactions.
Yang Y, Chen ZW, Hurlburt BK, Li GL, Zhang YX, Fei DX, Shen HW, Cao MJ, Liu GM. Identification of triosephosphate isomerase as a novel allergen in Octopus fangsiao. Mol Immunol. 2017 May;85:35-46. Epub 2017 Feb 14. PMID: 28208072.
Octopus is an important mollusk in human dietary for its nutritional value, however it also causes allergic reactions in humans.
- Cellular Health and Octopus
- Taurine from octopus may protect cells and tissue from damage.
Lee, WonWoo et al. “Radio-Protective Effects of Octopus ocellatus Meat Consisted of a Plentiful Taurine Against Damages Caused by Gamma Ray Irradiation.” Advances in experimental medicine and biology vol. 975 Pt 2 (2017): 955-971
Conclusion: consumption of taurine-rich foods, such as O. ocellatus, may be useful for the useful material for the protection against oxidative stress.
- Octopus and Circulation Health
- Hot water extract of octopus protects against damage to vein linings.
Cha SH, Han EJ, Ahn G, Jun HS. Taurine-Containing Hot Water Extract of Octopus Ocellatus Meat Prevents Methylglyoxal-Induced Vascular Damage. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2019;1155:471-482. PMID: 31468424.
Conclusion: hot water extract of Octopus ocellatus meat […] could be used as a dietary source of an agent for the prevention of vascular diseases.
- Octopus and Liver Disease
- Water extract of octopus protects liver cells against damage.
Lee W, Han EJ, Oh SJ, Shin EJ, Han HJ, Jung K, Heo SJ, Kim EA, Kim KN, Kwak IS, Kim MJ, Ahn G. An Aqueous Extract of Octopus ocellatus Meat Protects Hepatocytes Against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress via the Regulation of Bcl-2/Bax Signaling. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2019;1155:597-610. doi: 10.1007/978-981-13-8023-5_54. PMID: 31468434.
Lee W, Han EJ, Park E, Shin EJ, Han HJ, Jung K, Heo SJ, Kim EA, Kim KN, Kwak IS, Kim MJ, Ahn G. Hepatoprotective Activity of a Taurine-Rich Water Soluble Extract from Octopus vulgaris Meat. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2019;1155:691-703. PMID: 31468440.
Conclusion: protects hepatocytes from H2O2-triggered oxidative stress and might be a functional food material with hepatoprotective effects.
- This study investigates several nutrients in octopus.
Oliveira H, Muniz JA, Bandarra NM, Castanheira I, Coelho IR, Delgado I, Gonçalves S, Lourenço HM, Motta C, Duarte MP, Nunes ML, Gonçalves A. Effects of Industrial Boiling on the Nutritional Profile of Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris). Foods. 2019 Sep 12;8(9):411. doi: 10.3390/foods8090411. PMID: 31547442; PMCID: PMC6770756.
Conclusion: The consumption of 150 g (usual portion) of boiled octopus is advisable because it contributes to significant daily intakes of EPA+DHA (>100%), selenium (75.6%), and iodine (12.4%), and 25% of the daily adequate intake of sodium for adults.
Octopus Nutrition Research Summary
There is limited research into the effects of eating octopus. However, I will continue to investigate links with allergies, antioxidants, cholesterol, circulation, liver and any new relevant health considerations.