Q. Green Detox contains Maritech® Synergy - a concentrated extract of fucoidan. What, exactly, is fucoidan?
A. Fucoidan is a collective term for various sulfated polysaccharides (chains of sugar molecules) derived from species of brown seaweed such as Fucus vesiculosus (aka bladderwrack) and Undaria pinnatifida (aka wakame). The unique polysaccharide structure of fucoidans allows them to modulate cellular communication. For example, fucoidans have been shown to be powerful immunomodulators – substances which improve the efficiency of the body's immune response. An immune system which performs its duties efficiently is able to rid the body of diseased and damaged cells, and build healthy cells – all without the "collateral damage" caused by excessive inflammation.
As a frame of reference, many substances which supposedly "reduce inflammation" do so by impairing the activity of immune cells. This is true, for example, of the anti–inflammatory drug, cortisone and even supplemental doses of omega–3 fish oils. While such substances often offer symptomatic improvement for inflammatory conditions, they may also compromise the important pathogen–fighting and tissue building functions of the immune system.
Fucoidan, on the other hand, seems to reduce certain harmful aspects of inflammation, while, at the same time, supporting the tissue–building and pathogen–fighting aspects of immune function.
The following study, for example, found that a fucoidan–containing mixture of seaweed and minerals elicited a significant increase in the production of cytotoxic T cells and a near–significant increase in natural killer cells (NK cells). At the same time, the mixture also elicited a decrease in the inflammatory marker, Interleukin–6 (IL–6):
Study Link – A combined Phase I and II open–label study on the immunomodulatory effects of seaweed extract nutrient complex.
Quote from the above study:
In addition to immune modulation, the complex has potential anti–inflammatory activity, exhibited by the significant decrease in IL–6 between day 1 and day 28.
In another preliminary study, a fucoidan–containing seaweed mixture was found to reduce osteoarthritis symptoms and joint pain.* In those taking the fucoidan–containing mixture, the Comprehensive Osteoarthritis Test (COAT) – an established method for measuring arthritis symptoms – showed up to a 50.7% reduction in symptoms over the course of the study:
Study Link – A combined phase I and II open label study on the effects of a seaweed extract nutrient complex on osteoarthritis.
Evidence also suggests a possible protective effect of fucoidan against numerous viruses:
Study Link – Defensive effects of a fucoidan from brown alga Undaria pinnatifida against herpes simplex virus infection.
Where they are found only in brown seaweeds, fucoidans are consumed significantly in East Asian countries (Japan, China, Korea) where such foods represent staples of the diet. The consumption of brown seaweeds (and thus, fucoidan) is negligible, however, in almost every other culture across the globe. It has thus been proposed that fucoidans may be a unique contributor to the health and longevity often noted in coastal regions of East Asia.
Asian cultures are known for their relatively low incidence of metabolic syndrome – a cluster of symptoms which include obesity, high blood pressure, elevated blood lipids, and blood sugar disorders. While metabolic syndrome may affect up to 20% of the population of certain Western societies (such as the U.S.), incidence in Japan is among the lowest in the world at approximately 7%. This low incidence of metabolic syndrome is thought to be a major contributing factor to Japan's world–leading life expectancy.
Seaweeds contain numerous substances which may inhibit the development of the metabolic syndrome, and fucoidan from brown seaweed may be among the most powerful. Studies have found that the consumption of brown seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida) was associated with reduced waist circumference in women, and well as imparting a normalizing effect on systolic blood pressure:
Study Link – Could dietary seaweed reverse the metabolic syndrome?
In vitro studies have found that fucoidan is able to stimulate lipolysis (the breaking down of fats) which researchers speculate may ultimately be important in preventing obesity:
Study Link – Fucoidan from marine brown algae inhibits lipid accumulation.
Quote from the above study:
Since increase of HSL and p–HSL expression and decrease of glucose uptake into adipocytes are known to lead to stimulation of lipolysis, our results suggest that fucoidan reduces lipid accumulation by stimulating lipolysis. Therefore, these results suggest that fucoidan can be useful for the prevention or treatment of obesity due to its stimulatory lipolysis.
Metabolic syndrome and diabetes are characterized by high levels of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) – reactive substances formed from the interaction of proteins and sugars. AGEs can be consumed in food, but are particularly apt to be formed endogenously in diabetics due to chronically–elevated blood sugar levels. The presence of elevated AGEs is known to have particularly negative consequences for blood vessels and circulation. When AGEs attach to cellular receptors, the result can be a chronic inflammatory state associated with numerous age–related disorders including cardiovascular disease, and it's currently thought that AGEs may be largely responsible for the vascular disorders associated with diabetes.
One of the most far–reaching anti–aging benefits of fucoidan may involve the polysaccharide's ability to prevent the adherence of AGEs to AGE receptors (RAGE):
Study Link – FEEL–1 and FEEL–2 Are Endocytic Receptors for Advanced Glycation End Products.
Quote from the above study:
The 125 I–AGE–BSA binding to CHO–FEEL–1 and CHO–FEEL–2 cells was effectively inhibited by Ac–LDL and polyanionic SR–A inhibitors such as fucoidan, polyinosinic acids, and dextran sulfate but not by native LDL, oxidized LDL, or HDL.
Similarly, fucoidan's ability to inhibit leukocyte adherence within blood vessels has been shown to restore normal capillary blood flow in diabetic animals.
Study Link – Inhibition of leukocyte adherence enables venular control of capillary perfusion in streptozotocin–induced diabetic rats.
Advanced glycation end products have also been implicated in, perhaps, the most visible sign of aging – skin wrinkling:
Study Link – The Role of Hyperglycemia in Skin Wrinkle Formation: Mediation of Advanced Glycation End–Products.
Fucoidan's ability to inhibit the effects of AGEs may be a significant reason why fucoidan supports healthy, youthful skin. Studies have found fucoidan possesses the ability to inhibit several enzymes which are involved in skin aging, including elastase in the following study:
Study Link – Fucoidan a sulfated polysaccharide from brown algae is a potent modulator of connective tissue proteolysis.
Quote from the above study:
Using tissue sections of human skin in ex vivo experiments, we evidenced that this polysaccharide was able to minimize human leukocyte elastase activity resulting in the protection of human skin elastic fiber network against the enzymatic proteolysis due to this serine proteinase.
Even topical applications of brown seaweeds have been found to impart significant anti–aging activity upon skin:
Study Link – Treatment of human skin with an extract of Fucus vesiculosus changes its thickness and mechanical properties.
Quote from the above study:
A significant decrease in skin thickness measured by B–mode ultrasound was elicited, as was a significant improvement in elasticity measured with a Cutometer as compared with controls. In cheek skin, the thickness normally increases and the elasticity usually decreases with age. These results suggest that the Fucus vesiculosus extract possesses anti–aging activities and should be useful for a variety of cosmetics.
From this research, it seems likely that many of the health attributes associated with Asian cultures – from low incidence of metabolic syndrome to clear, wrinkle–resistant skin – may have much to do with the unique properties of fucoidan found in brown seaweed. It's important to emphasize the fact that brown seaweeds and fucoidan are almost completely absent from the Western diet. Nori seaweed (commonly used in sushi preparation) is a red seaweed which doesn't contain fucoidan. Other common sea vegetables sold as nutritional supplements (e.g., spirulina and blue–green algae) won't contain fucoidan either. For this reason, Green Detox is formulated with three sources of fucoidan including the standardized fucoidan extract known as Maritech Synergy®.
