Summary
Fucoxanthin is a brown seaweed pigment that is found in most brown seaweeds, as well as a few other marine sources. It is a xanthophyll, which is a molecule structurally similar to beta-carotene and vitamin A; yet fucoxanthin does not possess vitamin-like activity in the body.
Fucoxanthin, via its metabolites, seems to be stored in fat cells for a prolonged period of time and can induce fat loss while inhibiting fat cell differentiation and proliferation. Although only one human study has been published, it appears to be a promising non-stimulatory fat loss agent but requires time to work (5-16 weeks).
It also possesses other health benefits, such as correcting abnormalities in glucose metabolism in muscle tissue which can help diabetics and might reduce cholesterol levels and triglycerides by currently unverified mechanisms. Reductions in blood pressure and reductions in both liver fat stores and liver enzyme values have been noted with fucoxanthin supplementation in humans.
Fucoxanthin, although usage as a supplement is preliminary, appears to be a very promising joint fat loss and health boosting agent.
What are other names for Brown Seaweed Extract
- Seaweed Extract
- Undaria Pinnatifida
- Fuco
- Fucothin
- Fucoxanthin
- Astaxanthin
Dosage information
A daily dosage of 2.4-8mg fucoxanthin has shown benefit in some human studies over a prolonged period of time, and while within this range the benefits are dose-dependent higher doses have not been tested sufficiently.
If buying a seaweed standardized for fucoxanthin, look for the extract percentage and then backtrack. Buying an undaria pinnafitida supplement that is 1% fucoxanthin by weight would require 240-800mg of the supplement to get 2.4-8mg fucoxanthin.
Assuming this page on consuming seaweed is read and understood, then daily consumption of dietary seaweed may be sufficient to get enough fucoxanthin for optimal antioxidative and fat burning effects.
