Clinical Efficacy of Brown Seaweeds Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus in the Prevention or Delay Progression of the Metabolic Syndrome: A Review of Clinical Trials

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a global public health problem affecting nearly 25.9% of the world population characterised by a cluster of disorders dominated by abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high fasting plasma glucose, hypertriacylglycerolaemia and low HDL-cholesterol. In recent years, marine organisms, especially seaweeds, have been highlighted as potential natural sources of bioactive compounds and useful metabolites, with many biological and physiological activities to be used in functional foods or in human nutraceuticals for the management of MetS and related disorders. Of the three groups of seaweeds, brown seaweeds are known to contain more bioactive components than either red and green seaweeds. Among the different brown seaweed species, Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus have the highest antioxidant values and highest total phenolic content. However, the evidence base relies mainly on cell line and small animal models, with few studies to date involving humans. This review intends to provide an overview of the potential of brown seaweed extracts Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus for the management and prevention of MetS and related conditions, based on the available evidence obtained from clinical trials.

Whole Alga, Algal Extracts, and Compounds as Ingredients of Functional Foods: Composition and Action Mechanism Relationships in the Prevention and Treatment of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…Shang et al [78] observed an increase in the abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria, such as Akkermansia, Alloprevotella, Bacteroides, and Blautia, in mice with T2DM induced with a high-fat diet and fed with fucoidan obtained from A. nodosum. These authors justify the metabolic improvement found after consumption of the diet enriched in fucoidans by GM modulation, because some have observed that these compounds improve insulin-mediated glucose uptake in peripheral tissues and increase lipase expression sensitive to hormones, a key enzyme involved in lipolysis [78,240]. Lessonia trabeculate is a brown alga of economic importance used mainly to produce alginate.…”

“…Brown algae are the most studied in diabetic conditions in healthy animals. Their most abundant polysaccharides (alginates, laminarin, and fucoidan) have aroused special interest [240]. Alginates and related oligosaccharides have demonstrated prebiotic properties in vivo, by promoting metabolism of the fecal microbiota in humans [236].…”

“…The few studies of algae consumption on dysbiosis of diabetic models indicate promising effects by promoting beneficial species growth and improving glucose metabolism [240]. Specifically, the algae consumption improves the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio, an indicator of the microbial imbalance widely associated with T2DM development.…”

Brown Seaweed Sargassum siliquosum as an Intervention for Diet-Induced Obesity in Male Wistar Rats

“…Brown seaweeds have many commercial uses, including as food for human consumption [4], improving growth and meat quality of livestock [5], as a substrate for bioethanol production [6], as biostimulants for agricultural use [7] and as cation exchangers for wastewater remediation [8]. Further, the management of metabolic syndrome may be improved by some brown seaweeds, including Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosis [9]. Brown seaweeds also include the Sargassum genus that inhabits the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, including temperate, subtropical and tropical habitats; its biogeography suggests an origin at around 6.7 million years ago [10].…”

Effect of Ascophyllum nodosum Alga Application on Microgreens, Yield, and Yield Components in Oats Avena sativa L.

“…A. nodosum is a rich source of bioactive phenolic compounds, such as phlorotannins and polysaccharides, i.e., alginic acid, fucoidans, mannitol, and laminarin [7]. Some of the compounds show seasonal variation [24,25]. The biostimulation effects of A. nodosum, among others, have been proven.…”