Fucoidan has various beneficial biological effects, and as a functional ingredient, its importance in food, health supplements, and pharmaceuticals has been widely recognized. Fucoidan is typically extracted from brown algae, such as kelp, kombu, wakame, and Ecklonia cava. It is primarily found in the cell wall matrix of brown algae. As a naturally occurring polysaccharide from marine sources, fucoidan, mainly composed of sulfated fucose-containing polysaccharides, is a high-performance and uniquely effective marine-derived health product with significant application value in the health industry of the new era.
Currently, fucoidan has been proven to have functions such as regulating immunity, antioxidation, reshaping gut microbiota, and improving osteoporosis. In recent years, researchers have shown increased interest in the pharmaceutical and functional food industries for the application of fucoidan. In East Asia, especially in Japan, China, and South Korea, brown algae containing fucoidan are widely consumed.
Regulating Immunity
The spleen and thymus are crucial immune organs in the human body. When foreign substances enter the body, the immune response is activated to combat antigens. Therefore, the strength of the immune system plays a significant role in the body’s resistance to pathogens and the maintenance of normal functioning.
Fucoidan’s regulation of immunity involves three aspects:
- Regulation of immune organs: Fucoidan can enhance the body’s immune vitality by adjusting the function of the human immune system.
- Regulation of the non-specific immune system: High molecular weight fucoidan can significantly restore the cytotoxicity of NK cells. After treatment with high molecular weight fucoidan, the expression of white blood cell interleukins (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-12, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the spleen also increases significantly. Additionally, fucoidan can enhance the cellular and molecular immune response levels by regulating cytokine secretion.
- Regulation of specific immunity: Fucoidan directly inhibits the replication of viruses, thereby stimulating both innate and adaptive immune defenses.
Research on fucoidan in Japan has a relatively early start time, and the entire supply chain system is relatively complete, including product research and development, production, promotion, and application. Fucoidan products in the Japanese market mainly focus on enhancing immunity. Products like Sea Drop’s fucoidan are available in capsule, liquid bottle, and powder forms, with the main promoted benefits being “immune enhancement” and “reduction of side effects.” LeviXi also offers fucoidan capsule products, recommending a daily dosage of 1.5g to boost immunity and enhance constitution. Additionally, Swansons has introduced a brown seaweed sugar extract, claiming to support the human body’s resistance system.
In China, fucoidan products currently emphasize enhancing immune function, such as Saiyang’s Lead-clearing Wisdom Chewing Tablets, which claim to promote lead clearance and assist in improving memory, and Yinling’s Shell Oligosaccharide Xiangru Polysaccharide Capsules, which claim to enhance immunity.
Clearing Free Radicals, Antioxidation
Environmental pollution, ultraviolet radiation, and the body’s own metabolism generate a large number of free radicals. Fucoidan, a natural high-molecular-weight polysaccharide mainly derived from seaweed, is gradually gaining attention due to its excellent antioxidative activity. Research has found that fucoidan extracted from edible Ecklonia cava can prevent the generation of superoxide radicals and hydroxyl radicals, while also inhibiting lipid peroxidation. The antioxidative performance of fucoidan is closely related to its molecular weight and sulfate group content. Currently, obtaining lower molecular weight fucoidan can be achieved through physical, chemical, and biological methods. However, chemical modification has many challenges, and physical and biological modification methods may be future development directions.
In the United States, research and product development on fucoidan are at the forefront globally, primarily used to enhance immunity and antioxidation. Brands like Doctor’s Best, Dr’s Hope, and U-Fn advertise their products’ antioxidative effects.
Domestic enterprises in China have also begun researching fucoidan products for antioxidative properties. For example, Yinling’s Shell Oligosaccharide Astragalus American Ginseng Capsules claim to enhance immunity and provide antioxidative effects.
Reshaping Gut Microbiota, Regulating Intestinal Microecology
Fucoidan is a seaweed polysaccharide with inhibitory effects on various bacteria. The antibacterial activity is related to the molecular weight of fucoidan and the content of sulfate and uronic acid. The lower the molecular weight, the higher the uronic acid content, and the lower the glucose content, the stronger the antibacterial activity. In vitro experiments have found that fucoidan extracted from kelp has inhibitory effects on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus after depolymerization into low-molecular-weight fucoidan.
Experimental studies have found that fucoidan can change the structure of the gut microbiota, increase microbial diversity, and enhance the abundance of gut microbiota, playing a role in protecting the intestinal microbial barrier.
The above research suggests that fucoidan may serve as a potential prebiotic to regulate intestinal microecology.
Providing New Insights for Improving Osteoporosis
The balanced state between osteoblasts and osteoclasts contributes to the healthy development of bone tissue. When this balance is disrupted, and osteoblast formation decreases while osteoclast absorption increases, diseases such as osteoporosis can occur. Fucoidan is expected to be used as a supplement for bone health.
Research has found that fucoidan can inhibit the generation of osteoclasts from bone marrow macrophages. It can also stimulate alkaline phosphatase, mineral deposition, and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), all related to bone mineralization by osteoblasts.
The above findings indicate that fucoidan is likely to provide a good solution for improving osteoporosis.
In the domestic market, many enterprises in provinces and cities such as Shandong, Beijing, and Liaoning are actively promoting the industrialization of fucoidan. However, most companies mainly produce fucoidan health raw materials, and the number of fucoidan-related products with national health food approval is relatively small. Currently, some fucoidan products produced by Chinese enterprises have been filed with the National Medical Products Administration.
As people further research fucoidan, it is expected to play a greater role in fields such as food and nutrition supplements, functional beverages, beauty and skincare products, and animal nutrition, with significant market application potential in the large health industry.
References:
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