Why You Should Be Supplementing with Fucoxanthin
Fucoxanthin is a naturally occurring orange-colored xanthophyll — which is a type of carotenoid comparable to Vitamin A — and it is found primarily in brown seaweed species, such as wakame (Undaria pinnatifida), hijiki (Sargassum fusiforme), and kelp (Laminaria japonica).
Fucoxanthin is found in extract forms from such sea plants when used as a dietary supplement.
Fucoxanthin has attracted considerable attention recently for its potential health benefits, especially its purported ability to help build muscle and lose weight.
As stated in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, fucoxanthin is a compound studied extensively, with results showing promising anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic components.
What is Fucoxanthin?
The history of fucoxanthin as a compound in health dates back to traditional East Asian cultures, where brown seaweeds have long been recognized and consumed for their nutritional and medicinal properties.
In China, the Compendium of Materia Medica (本草綱目, Běncǎo Gāngmù), written by Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty (16th century), is considered one of the most comprehensive and influential works on traditional Chinese medicine.
This text includes descriptions of various seaweeds and their uses, such as Sargassum (called 海藻, hǎizǎo in Chinese) and Laminaria (called 昆布, kūnbù in Chinese). Shizen believed brown seaweeds to possess medicinal properties, including the ability to eliminate phlegm, soften hardness, and reduce swelling.
In Japan, the Ishimpo (医心方), written by Tamba Yasuyori during the Heian period (10th century), is one of the oldest and most essential texts on Japanese traditional medicine.
This work also mentions the use of seaweeds like kelp (kombu) and wakame (わかめ) for their health benefits. These seaweeds have been an integral part of Japanese cuisine for centuries, and they are still widely consumed today in dishes like miso soup, salads, and various types of sushi.
Including these seaweeds in the diet daily was purported to promote overall health and longevity.
According to the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, fucoxanthin was “first isolated [distinguished from the seaweed] in 1914 by Willstätter and Page,” leading to a growing body of evidence supporting its various health benefits.
How Does Fucoxanthin Work? What Are its Benefits?
One of the milestones in fucoxanthin research came in the early 21st century when researchers identified its potential supplement in the management of obesity and diabetes.
For instance, according to a randomized clinical trial conducted by the journal Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, “brown seaweed containing 2.4mg [of] fucoxanthin resulted in statistically significant reduction[s] of body weight, waist circumference, body and liver fat content, liver enzymes, serum triglycerides, and C-reactive protein.”
Fucoxanthin does this by increasing the amount of energy the mitochondria in our cells expend, inhibiting glucose from being absorbed by adipose cells and giving preference to in that regard to myocytes (muscle cells), as noted in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications — though it’s important to note that research subjects additionally tracked their food intake, which can also induce such mechanisms.
“[Fucoxanthin] has several physiological activities, including anti-cancer, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-obesity effects.”
In other words, when supplemented in its isolated form or taken by eating brown seaweed such as petalonia binghamiae, fucoxanthin presents as a medicinal food source.
Myths about Fucoxanthin
Despite the growing body of research supporting the potential benefits of fucoxanthin, there are also instances where benefits have been falsely attributed to the compound — usually on the basis of preliminary results showing potential or promise in a specific direction.
For example, some marketing claims have suggested that fucoxanthin can improve cognitive function and prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
This is suggested in a marketing sense insofar as fucoxanthin is included in supplements labeled as “nootropics” or “cognitive enhancers,” along with parallel online blogs ‘demonstrating’ such claims by citing research.
These claims overblow what is really said by scientists, however. For instance, according to a 2022 study from Nutritional Neuroscience:
“It has been shown that some metabolites of fucoxanthin may produce potent in vivo neuroprotective effects. Altogether, these studies suggest the possibility for future development of fucoxanthin as a one-compound-multiple-target or pro-drug type pharmaceutical or nutraceutical treatment for neurodegenerative disorders.”
Furthermore, while fucoxanthin’s bioavailability doesn’t seem to impact the abovementioned benefits, “the poor bioavailability of this molecule might prevent its clinical use.”
How to Take Fucoxanthin and Side-Effects
As stated in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry and Marine Drugs, fucoxanthin has a remarkable track record in human clinical studies of having “no adverse effects reported.”
That being said, always check with a healthcare provider before taking any new dietary supplement — just because a molecule hasn’t been shown to have adverse effects in clinical research doesn't mean it’s impossible to be allergic to fucoxanthin.
Supplementing with 8mg of fucoxanthin daily will provide all of the scientifically verified benefits of this molecule for $0.20 to $1.00 per dosage, depending on which brand you choose.
Fucoxanthin is worth taking as a dietary supplement because it is a medicinal food source in many ways.
If you want to lose weight, reduce pain, and improve biomarkers related to general health and longevity on your next blood test, consider supplementing with fucoxanthin.
The scientific consensus in each of these benefits is that it can — with “statistical significance” — massively help, with no adverse effects and at a low cost. That is why you should be supplementing with fucoxanthin.
