The efficacy and safety of Laminaria japonica for metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Background: Metabolic syndrome is a pathological condition characterized by abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Conventional treatments for metabolic syndrome have limitations due to their nonselectivity, drug resistance, and low bioavailability. The brown seaweed Laminaria japonica (LJP) is a traditional medicine and food in Asia that has shown pharmacological and biochemical properties favorable to the prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases. We will systematically review randomized controlled trials and in vivo preclinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of LJP as a useful treatment for metabolic syndrome. Methods:The following databases will be searched from inception to September 2021: MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science. Randomized controlled trials and in vivo preclinical studies that analyzed LJP for the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndromes will be included. The outcome measures will include body composition, dietary habit scores, serum lipid profiles, daily nutrient intake, quality of life, number of microbiomes, gastrointestinal symptoms, and bowel function. Studies comparing LJP with any type of control intervention will be included. Data extraction using Review Manager version 5.3 and risk of bias assessment using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias will be performed by 2 independent assessors. Results and Conclusion:This systematic review will provide evidence confirming the efficacy and safety of LJP in the treatment of metabolic syndrome.Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval was not required, as this study protocol does not include any personal information of the participants.

The Effect of Laminaria japonica on Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Its Efficacy and Mechanism of Action

“…The search strategy for each database can be found in the Supplementary Table S1 . This systematic review was registered in the Open Science Framework registry ( , accessed on 5 September 2021) and the protocol has been previously published [ 1 ].…”

“…Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia [ 1 ]. Cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis, obesity, and hyperlipidemia disrupt the metabolic balance and are associated with MetS, which is caused by impediments to anabolism and catabolism in the human body [ 2 ].…”

“…Hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, and atherosclerosis are symptoms of diabetes mellitus (DM), a chronic metabolic condition that affects the body’s ability to process carbohydrates, lipids, and lipoproteins [ 3 ]. The increased consumption of high-calorie and low-fiber food and decreased physical activity result in a higher incidence of MetS, leading to high health care costs and poor quality of life [ 1 ]. In recent decades, the prevalence of MetS has reached an epidemic-level, with approximately 2 billion adults affected and 1/3 of children being obese; this is a significant public health and clinical concern worldwide [ 4 , 5 ].…”

“…There is no guarantee of full recovery by the FDA-approved drugs for MetS, and they also have some long-term and short-term side effects including flatulence, abdominal bloating and discomfort, diarrhea, and an increase in bladder cancer [ 7 ]. Furthermore, non-selective drug resistance and bioavailability are some of the drawbacks of the conventional therapies for MetS [ 1 ]. Therefore, developing novel drugs for the treatment of MetS is urgently required.…”

“…It is a traditional food and medicine in Asia due to its pharmacological and biochemical qualities. It is also known as kelp, sea tangle, kombu or kunbu in Japan, and dashima in Korea [ 1 ].…”