Fucoxanthin supplement health benefit
and adverse effects, dosage, uses - Does a fucoxanthin
supplement use lead to weight loss?
Does it have side effects?
Is it a scam? by
Ray Sahelian, M.D.
Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid found in edible brown
seaweeds. There are some companies promoting it as a
weight loss supplement. Several human studies need to be done with this carotenoid
before it can be recommended for weight loss. In fact, as of
December, 2010, I am able to find only one human study with a fucoxanthin
supplement pill in regards to obesity treatment. One major concern I have
is the amount of iodine present in the seaweeds that are a source of the
fucoxanthin. Always demand from the company or supplier that you intend to
purchase this product from to inform you of the iodine content in order for you
to avoid possible toxicity.
Fucoxanthin side effects, danger,
risk, caution
Since fucoxanthin is difficult to find in pure form, people who take such a supplement do so as part of brown seaweed or as a 5 percent or 10
percent extract of seaweed. One gram of seaweed has several times the amount of
iodine that most adults require on a daily basis. Therefore, a potential
side effect could include changes in thyroid function due to iodine
excess. It is difficult to specify what side effects it would have
until ingredient suppliers are able to concentrate it from seaweed to a
90 percent plus extract concentration.
Human study
The effects of Xanthigen in the weight management of obese premenopausal women
with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and normal liver fat.
Diabetes Obes Metab. 2010.
To investigate the effects of Xanthigen (brown marine algae fucoxanthin +
pomegranate seed oil (PSO)) on body weight, body fat, liver lipids, and blood
biochemistry; and Xanthigen and its individual components on resting energy
expenditure (REE) in obese, non-diabetic female volunteers with non-alcoholic
fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and normal liver fat (NLF) content. Sixteen-week,
double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Food record data, body
composition, REE (only 41 volunteers with NAFLD) and blood sample analysis were
assessed weekly for 16 weeks in 151 non-diabetic, obese premenopausal women with
liver fat content above 11% (NAFLD), and below 6% (NLF). Xanthigen-600/2.4 mg
(300 mg PSO + 300 mg brown seaweed extract containing 2.4 mg fucoxanthin)
resulted in statistically significant reduction of body weight, waist
circumference (NAFLD group only), body and liver fat content, liver enzymes (NAFLD
group only), serum triglycerides and C-reactive protein. Weight loss and
reduction in body and liver fat content occurred earlier in patients with NLF
than in patients with NAFLD. Fucoxanthin (> 2.4 mg) and Xanthigen-400/1.6 mg
(200 mg PSO + 200 mg brown seaweed extract containing 1.6 mg fucoxanthin)
significantly increased REE in NAFLD subjects compared to placebo. Xanthigen
promoted weight loss, reduced body and liver fat content, and improved liver
function tests in obese non-diabetic women. Xanthigen and Fucoxanthin also
increased REE. This product may be considered a promising food supplement in the
management of obesity.
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ginseng, or stimulating amino acids. Diet Rx does not have fucoxanthin at
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Fucoxanthin and weight loss -
animal studies
Most of the time, when animal studies are done, the amount of herbs or drugs
given to them is much higher per body weight than what is normally ingested by humans.
Therefore, one has to be cautious interpreting studies and outcomes in animals.
Rodent studies are often not a reliable way to
determine the effectiveness of a supplement, let alone its safety profile and
side effects, since the dosages given per body weight to rodents are often
several times that of humans and rodents do not have an easy way to complain,
inform or show signs of, from negative or unpleasant effects.
There are many substances that show weight loss effect when given
in large amounts to animals but fail to show such a benefit when given to humans
in reasonable amounts that do not cause side effects or reactions with other
supplements and medications.
Fucoxanthin-rich seaweed extract suppresses body weight
gain and improves lipid metabolism in high-fat-fed C57BL/6J mice.
Biotechnol J. 2010.
An ethanol extract of fucoxanthin-rich seaweed was examined for its
effectiveness as a nutraceutical for body fat-lowering agent and for an
antiobese effect based on mode of actions in C57BL/6J mice. Animals were
randomized to receive a semi-purified high-fat diet (20% dietary fat, 10% corn
oil and 10% lard) supplemented with 0.2% conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) as the
positive control, 1.4% or 5.7% fucoxanthin-rich seaweed ethanol extract (Fx-SEE),
equivalent to 0.05% or 0.2% dietary fucoxanthin for six weeks. Results showed
that supplementation with both doses of Fx-SEE significantly reduced body and
abdominal white adipose tissue (WAT) weights, plasma and hepatic triglyceride
(TG), and/or cholesterol concentrations compared to the high-fat control group.
Dietary Combination of Fucoxanthin and Fish Oil Attenuates the Weight Gain of
White Adipose Tissue and Decreases Blood Glucose in Obese / Diabetic KK-A(y) Mice.
J Agric Food Chem. 2007.
To
evaluate the anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects of fucoxanthin and fish oil,
we investigated the effect on the WAT weight, blood glucose, and insulin levels
of mice. After 4 weeks of feeding, 0.2% fucoxanthin in the diet
markedly attenuated the gain of WAT weight in mice with increasing
UCP1 expression compared with the control mice. The WAT weight of the mice fed
0.1% fucoxanthin and 6.9% fish oil was also significantly lower than that of the
mice fed fucoxanthin alone. In addition, 0.2% markedly decreased the
blood glucose and plasma insulin concentrations. The mice fed with the
combination diet also showed improvements
similar to that of 0.2% fucoxanthin. Leptin and tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha)
mRNA expression in WAT were significantly down-regulated by 0.2% fucoxanthin.
These results suggest that dietary fucoxanthin decreases the blood glucose and
plasma insulin concentration of KK- A (y) along with down-regulating TNFalpha
mRNA. In addition, the combination of fucoxanthin and fish oil is more effective
for attenuating the weight gain of WAT than feeding with fucoxanthin alone.
Note by Dr. Sahelian: The amount of fucoxanthin fed to these mice
was 0.2 percent of their diet. For easy calculation, let's say a person on
average eats 1000 grams of food a day. If 0.2 percent of the diet is fucoxanthin,
this would mean that they would have to consume 2 grams of fucoxanthin daily to
have a similar effect as did the mice. Two grams equals 2000 mg. The highest fucoxanthin containing product I could find during an internet search in
November of
2010 was 10 mg per capsule. If one were to take even a few capsules a day,
iodine excess could potentially occur.
Products available over the
counter
Be careful when you buy a product promoted as fucoxanthin since you may be, in
some cases, basically buying brown seaweed. Also, you have to consider the high
amount of iodine in these products since excess iodine can cause goiters or
other thyroid malfunctions. Also, just because a product claims it has a
specific mg of fucoxanthin does not mean the information is reliable. Some
companies may not be honest and their label may not reflect what is actually in
the capsules.
FucoMax 200 mg capsules contain a 10% Fucoxanthin
extract (not a concentrate) made from edible Wakame Seaweed gathered from the
Sea of Japan. Each FucoMax Capsule has 20 mg of pure Fucoxanthin, most products
on the market today only have 5 mg and are not made from edible brown seaweed.
FucoMax also has a high concentration of Cha' de Bugre extract.
FucoTHIN 200 mg blend composed of brown seaweed (Undaria
pinnatifida, Laminaria japonica) concentrate with 5 mg of fucoxanthin per
serving. The label does not mention the amount of iodine or the amount of
sodium.
FucoXanthin Plus by Nutrimatrix has a proprietary
Fucoxanthin blend 283 mg: Brown Seaweed (Undaria Pinnatifida, Laminaria japonica)
Concentrate (contains 5mg of fucoxanthin) Pomegranate Seed Oil, Green Tea
Extract, Certified South African Hoodia Gordonii.
Fucoxanthin-Slim has a Proprietary blend 200 mg per
capsule of Xanthigen Brown Seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida, Laminaria japonica)
concentrate (contains 5 mg of fucoxanthin), Pomegranate Seed Oil.
Good'N Natural Fucoxanthin says on the middle panel of
their product label " Fucoxanthin ." However, when you read the supplement fact
panel, there is 1000 mg of brown seaweed fucus nodosus and they do not say how
much fucoxanthin is present in the 1000 mg. We found one site with the identical
product under a different label that says the 1000 mg of the seaweed has 0.25 mg
of fucoxanthin. That's right. You are buying plain brown seaweed. Plus, there is
650 mcg of iodine in each capsule which is more than 400 percent of the daily
value required by adults. Plus, this product has 35 grams of sodium. If
anything, the label should say sodium on it since it appears to be the
ingredient with the highest amount in this " Fucoixanthin" supplement.
Update September 2008. After I complained to the Good'N Natural
people about the misleading label on their Fucoxanthin product, they changed it
to: Iodine (from Seaweed) 650 mcg 433%, Sodium 35 mg 1%, Seaweed 1,000 mg (1g),
(Fucus nodosus) (leaf) (With naturally occurring Fucoxanthin). Basically you are
buying seaweed at a very high price when you buy this product that says
Fucoxanthin on the label.
inShape Fucoxanthin has
250mg (Undaria pinnatifida, Laminaria japonica) and there is no mention of the
amount of fucoxanthin, sodium, or iodine in each capsule.
Puritan's Pride Fucoxanthin says on the middle panel of
their product label " Fucoxanthin ." However, when you read the supplement fact
panel, there is 1000 mg of brown seaweed fucus nodosus and they do not say how
much fucoxanthin is present in the 1000 mg. We found one site with the identical
product under a different label that says the 1000 mg of the seaweed has 0.25 mg
of fucoxanthin. That's right. You are buying plain brown seaweed. Plus, there
several hundred mcg of iodine in each capsule which is more than 400 percent of the daily
value required by adults. Plus, this product has 35 grams of sodium. If
anything, the label should say sodium on it since it appears to be the
ingredient with the highest amount in this " Fucoidan " supplement.
Update September 2008. After I complained to the Puritan's Pride
people about the misleading label, they changed it
to: Iodine (from Seaweed) 650 mcg 433%, Sodium 35 mg 1%, Seaweed 1,000 mg (1g),
(Fucus nodosus) (leaf) (With naturally occurring Fucoxanthin). Basically you are
buying seaweed at a very high price when you buy this product that says
Fucoxanthin on the label.
Seaweeds in Japan
Wwakame (Undaria pinnatifida) is used in miso soup.
Hijiki (Hijikia fusiformis)..
Cancer
Growth inhibition of human hepatic carcinoma HepG2 cells by fucoxanthin is
associated with down-regulation of cyclin D.
Biochim Biophys Acta. 2008.
This study shows fucoxanthin is helpful as an inhibitor of a hepatic cancer cell line. These results, taken
together with previous studies with fucoxanthin, suggest that it may be useful
in chemoprevention of other human malignancies.
Fucoxanthin in sea urchin
The major pigments detected in the gut wall of the sea urchin Paracentrotus
lividus are breakdown products of fucoxanthin, namely fucoxanthinol and
amarouciaxanthin.
Inquiries
I eat all natural, work out 3-4 times per week. My
weight won't budge. I have plenty of fat on my belly, thighs, arms, sides. I
am not fat but have problem areas. I tried fucoxanthin for 2 1/2 days. I was
very hungry and had trouble sleeping because I tried to eat what I normally
would but was hungry and therefore irritable. I have tried "bad"
thermogenics with ephedra in the past I don't consume caffeine at all because I
have trouble sleeping in general...I want to know if I took less than
recommended fucoxanthin FucoThin by Garden of Life was what I was taking) would
it still be beneficial. And most importantly would I be able to stop the
supplement at some pt or would I have to take it for life. The old thermogenics
when stopped made me gain more wt more than when I started, my metabolism was
sluggish.
Fucoxanthin is new to the market and we don't have much
experience with it yet. Regarding the Garden of Life fucoxanthin
product, a search on the internet reveals that Garden of Life has a product
called FucoThin, FucoThin has a brown seaweed extract (Undaria pinnatifida,
Laminaria japonica). FucoThin has 5 mg in this product. We have
not seen any research for weight loss with FucoThin so we don't know if it is
effective. We also don't know how much iodine is in the FucoThin product. Our
staff called Garden of Life to find out how much iodine was in a capsule but
they would not reveal the information our staff requested.
I take Fucoxanthin-slim by Life Extension. It takes
6 weeks to see results of fat loss. Can Diet Rx also help?
The majority of Diet Rx users notice appetite suppression within
2 to 3 days. We don't have any reports of people using the combination of Fucoxanthin-Slim by Life Extension along with Diet Rx.
I'm a health food store owner and received an email
promotion regarding FucoPure. It said, "FucoPure Fucoxanthin from Japanese
Wakame Seaweed. Japanese Wakame seaweed, thought to be one of the first types of
marine vegetation originating on the planet over one billion years ago, may hold
the key to staying slim and healthy. New scientific studies are suggesting that
a pigment in this Japanese Wakame seaweed found in the form of a carotenoid
called fucoxanthin, may hold answers to targeting and reducing abdominal fat.
This brings to light a completely new theory in weight loss and combating
obesity. Until recently, this has never been thought possible." What are your
thoughts on the benefit of fucoxanthin for weight loss?
I'd like to see a few more human studies before giving an opinion on
the benefit of fucoxanthin for weight loss.
I found your name on a website that discussed this product and it's potential
iodine issues, and just wanted to report that I had a reaction to it in Solo
Slim Extra Strength. I have a history of allergic reactions to topical iodine,
contrast dye, and concentrated iodine in a cough medicine. However, when I
purchased this product, I did not do my research so I didn't realize the
concentrate of iodine nor what fucoxanthin actually is. After 9 days of taking
this product, I broke out in hives (over a 6 hour period); then swelling hands,
ankles, knees; then my throat started getting tight. I started researching what
the hives could be from, and realized the only change in my life was the
initiation of Solo Slim. Of course, the SoloSlim website does not mention iodine
or side effects, but I found a website that does and found your information
there. I went to the ER for treatment and told them I thought it was due to this
product. As a result, and because of my history of iodine issues, they
prescribed an Epi-pen to keep with me. I am so shocked that I now have to carry
an Epi-pen, but the pharmacist assured me that this could happen more quickly,
if it happened again .I have emailed the Solo Slim company, but don't expect to
hear from them. I just wanted to report my experience.
I had not heard of this product but one of my assistants
searched the internet and found the ingredients. Konjac Glucomannan (Amorphophallus
konjac), Lotus Leaf Flavonoids and Alkaloids (Nelumbo nucifera), Citrus
Aurantium Synephrine (Aurantii pericarpium), Hawthorne Hyperosides (Crataegus
oxyacantha), Green Aloe, Decaffinated Green Tea EGCg 45%, Fucoxanthin 10%. It is
possible that your reaction was due to iodine, but it could also be due to any
of the other herbs in this product.
Jordan Reuben, who started Garden of Life as you may
know, has made quite a case for this fucoxanthin supplement in regards to
successful weight loss, etc. He then created a product called FucoThin. Other
companies, seeking opportunity no doubt, have jumped on the same band wagon by
offering the same supplement combined with another ingredient, "hoodia" is it?
(Sorry, can't recall it well enough. Seems I may need your memory supplement.
Ha!) Anyway, fucoxanthin, the way it has been presented by those seeking to
profit from any benefits it may possess, seems like a miracle supplement. What
I'm looking for is to find information on it from an unbiased study that details
it's true value as a supplement. Do you have any information at all on this
particular supplement, fucoxanthin? Any human studies known? Why do you suppose
it's so expensive? Not Garden of Life, but other companies selling it cheaper
are now combining it with the "hoodia" supplement which to me seems overbearing
and makes me think it could become unsafe somehow. That goes with the logic that
if a little bit is good, then a lot is better! So is combining it with "hoodia"
a good idea? I would greatly appreciate any knowledge you may have on this
subject. Keep up the good, unbiased reporting. Again, I'm glad I stumbled upon
this site. I shared it with my mother who is also very interested in natural /
herbal supplements.
The addition of hoodia to fucoxanthin may be safe or not safe
depending on the amounts used and the extract potencies.
Trademarked fucoxanthin products
FucoPure - Nutraceuticals International has trademarked a 10 percent fucoxanthin
extract called FucoPure. Nutraceuticals says their fucoxanthin extract comes
from Wakame seaweed from the Sea of Japan!
LipoxanThin - National Bioscience USA has a proprietary concentrate of fucoxanthin
called LipoxanThin.
This is a press release from the marketers of this
product, Specialty Nutrition Group
BOCA RATON, Florida, September 18, 2006 - Promising new research from Japanese
and Russian scientists demonstrates that fucoxanthin, a natural unique
carotenoid specific to brown marine vegetables, possesses thermogenic
properties. Fucoxanthin induces UCP1 protein genes expression, which may
contribute to dietary weight reduction and healthy weight management. In this new, human clinical trial, a patent-pending extract of fucoxanthin called LipoxanThin showed promising results for fat loss in humans.
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 140 obese female demonstrated
statistically significant reduction in liver fat, body fat and body weight
versus placebo after 16 weeks. This study is pending publication by the Russian
Academy of Natural Sciences and was recently presented for National Academy
Scientific Award for the best clinical trial of the year. Dr. Sergey Grachev
(Prof. of Medicine, MD) and Dr. Musa Abidov (Professor of Medicine, MD) at First
Medical Academy and Institute of Immunopathology, Russian Academy of Natural
Sciences the primary researcher for the Russian study, commented, “It is
important to note that the benefits of brown marine vegetables are the result of
Fucoxanthin, the active component. The observed effect is specific to
fucoxanthin and was not found in other carotenoids. LipoxanThin is extracted
from selected species of edible brown marine vegetables cultivated in unique
advanced marine biotechnological methods and extracted using a proprietary
process developed over the past seven years to create a highly concentrated
natural fucoxanthin – 500% higher than wildcrafted seaweed. Seaweed in the wild
contains just 0.01-0.02% fucoxanthin, so other seaweed products will not provide
the same results.”
Metabolically, fucoxanthin promotes the induction of
UCP1-mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1. Fucoxanthin upregulates the expression
of UCP1 gene expression in WAT thus contributing to reduced white adipose tissue
weight. By stimulating the expression of the UPC-1 gene in WAT, fucoxanthin
promotes thermogenesis (fat burning) in white fat cells. White fat cells are
those that accumulate in the liver and around the belly as a result of
overweight or obesity. Unlike caffeine, ephedra, and other stimulants, the
thermogenic effect from LipoxanThin™ is achieved without stimulating the central
nervous system – so there are no jitters, loss of sleep, or overstimulation.
National Bioscience USA has appointed Specialty Nutrition Group,
Inc. (SNG) as the exclusive commercialization partner and patent assignee for
LipoxanThin (also called Xanthigen) in the U.S. and worldwide retail market. “We
are honored to work with Dr. Ramazanov in bringing this product to U.S.
consumers”, noted Greg Horn, President of SNG. “LipoxanThin™ has the rare
combination of safety, strong science, human clinical proof, patent-pending
protection, and proprietary cultivation, and offers exciting potential as a
natural product for the epidemic obesity in the United States.”
About LipoxanThin
LipoxanThin is a marine thermogenic - a proprietary concentrate of
fucoxanthin from specially selected strains of deep sea water cultivated brown
marine vegetables grown under closely controlled conditions in special
photobioreactors in the Canary Islands, 1,000 miles from Europe. The
combination of proprietary cultivation and extraction creates an all-natural
extract with pharmacologically effective levels of fucoxanthin, along with other
marine carotenoids violaxanthin and neoxanthin and marine omega-3 essential
fatty acids. This marine vegetable extract is combined with Granatoil-
proprietary pomegranate seed oil extract.
About National Bioscience Corporation
National Bioscience Corporation is a discovery and development company
serving the Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical industries with research and development services. Lead by Dr. Zakir Ramazanov, Professor in
Marine Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, President of National BioSciences
USA creates product innovations in both
science and marketability. Dr. Ramazanov is a researcher, with
over 140 scientific studies published in journals worldwide. His previous
research and development successes in the nutraceutical field include bringing
Siberian Rhodiola Rosea, patented Aralia mandshurica, natural Lycopene, marine
beta-carotene, and unique fruit derived flavonoids Myricetin and Mangiferin to
the world markets.
About Specialty Nutrition Group
Specialty Nutrition Group, Inc. is a nutrition brand building firm focused on
commercializing innovative, IP-protected nutritional technologies. SNG acts as
co-development partner with consumer products and nutrition companies to rapidly
commercialize nutrition innovations, represents academic institutions and
individual inventors to find new commercial applications for their inventions,
and develops its own brands for commercial launch in the nutraceutical market.
The professionals of Specialty Nutrition Group, Inc. have been responsible for
launching new nutraceutical products with current annual retail sales of over
$1.0 billion.
Brown Marine Vegetables
Brown marine vegetables have been used in the Oriental and Russian diet since
ancient times. Epidemiological studies suggest that the high
consumption of marine vegetable derived products may be a contributing factor in
their well-established, low incidence of breast cancer, prostate
cancer and mortality rate related to obesity in these
countries as compared to Americans.