The anti‐obesity and anti‐diabetic effects of the edible seaweed Gloiopeltis furcata (Postels et Ruprecht) J. Agardh in mice fed a high‐fat diet

Abstract

Obesity and diabetes are serious, chronic medical conditions associated with a wide range of life-threatening conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the edible red seaweed Gloiopeltis furcata (Postels et Ruprecht) J. Agardh (G. furcata) on the development of obesity, diabetes and related metabolic diseases in mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat (HF) diet (60% energy as fat), or an HF diet containing 2% (w/w) or 6% powdered G. furcata for 13 weeks. Polysaccharides of G. furcata were isolated and their anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The HF diet group showed greater weight gain, lipid accumulation in the body and liver, and increased serum levels of glucose and cholesterol in comparison to the normal group fed a normal diet (10% energy as fat). The treatment of HF diet mice with G. furcata reduced these changes and stimulated the fecal excretion of fat. In addition, G. furcata suppressed the HF diet-induced elevation of inflammation and oxidative stress markers in the serum and liver. The isolated sulfated polysaccharide from G. furcata inhibited pancreatic lipase activity and decreased the production of nitric oxide and TNFα in the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7. These results show that G. furcata treatment can attenuate obesity, diabetes, hepatic steatosis, and dyslipidemia in mice fed an HF diet, which is associated with inhibited intestinal fat absorption and reduced inflammation and oxidative stress by a sulfated polysaccharide.

Effect of Gracilaria vermiculophylla Macroalga on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Obese Rats

“…With regard to hepatic steatosis, macroalgae consumption has shown to exert beneficial effects by decreasing hepatic fat deposition and other parameters related to fatty liver in experimental rat models [ 33 , 34 , 35 ] and mice [ 36 , 37 , 38 ]. Moreover, a recent study conducted in humans revealed a negative association between seaweed intake and NAFLD, particularly among non-obese subjects [ 39 ]…”

“…With regard to hepatic steatosis, macroalgae consumption has shown to exert beneficial effects by decreasing hepatic fat deposition and other parameters related to fatty liver in experimental rat models [33][34][35] and mice [36][37][38]. Moreover, a recent study conducted in humans revealed a negative association between seaweed intake and NAFLD, particularly among non-obese subjects [39] In the present study, we explored the impact of administering the red seaweed Gracilaria vermiculophylla for six weeks on hepatic steatosis in obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats.…”

Microalgae as a Nutraceutical Tool to Antagonize the Impairment of Redox Status Induced by SNPs: Implications on Insulin Resistance

“…Thus, particularly in genetically predisposed individuals, the potential of microalgae to restore redox balance may also prevent the development of metabolic aberrations directly related to oxidative stress, such as insulin resistance. However, the fact that these effects may also be elicited by other organisms, such as seaweed, must not be overlooked [ 201 , 202 ]. Nevertheless, studies directly investigating the impact of microalgae intake in individuals with an increased susceptibility to oxidative stress are lacking, particularly those aimed at elucidating the relationship between antioxidant rich microalgae, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance.…”

Seaweeds as Nutraceutical Elements and Drugs for Diabetes Mellitus: Future Perspectives

“…A recent study by Murakami et al [47] investigated the effects of Gloiopeltis furcate (Rhodophyta), an edible red seaweed, on diet-induced obesity in mice. The mice were subjected to a high-fat diet (HF) and treated with two doses of G. furcata for a duration of thirteen weeks.…”

“…Preclinical study: mice were fed a high-fat diet (60% energy as fat) supplemented with 2% (w/w) or 6% powdered G. furcata for 13 weeks Suppression of weight gain and a reduction in white adipose tissue weight in mice [47]…”