Supplements Print The Uses and Benefits of Fucoxanthin By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Richard Fogoros, MD on August 29, 2018 Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywell's Senior Medical Advisor. Learn about our Review Board Richard Fogoros, MD Updated on April 19, 2020 Gary Conner / Stockbyte / Getty Images More in Healthy Eating Supplements Recipes Nutrition Facts Basics Sports Nutrition Weight Management Eat Well Strategies Special Diets Kids' Nutrition View All In This Article Table of Contents Expand Usage Benefits Side Effects View All Back To Top Fucoxanthin is a natural substance sourced from brown seaweed such as wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) and hijiki (Hijikia fusiformis). Said to offer a variety of health benefits, fucoxanthin is a carotenoid (a class of plant pigments with antioxidant effects). When it is ingested and enters the gastrointestinal tract, fucoxanthin is metabolized by digestive enzymes to fucoxanthinol and then absorbed in the intestines. In the liver, fucoxanthinol is coverted to amarouciaxanthin A. Fucoxanthin is also available in dietary supplement form. Although it is found naturally in edible brown seaweed, there's some evidence that fucoxanthin from food sources varies in absorption depending on the other food components it is with. Some research suggests that consuming fucoxanthin with dietary fat (such as an fish oil and medium-chain triglycerides) could enhance the absorption of fucoxanthin. Uses of Fucoxanthin Proponents suggest that fucoxanthin can support weight loss by speeding up your metabolism and stimulating your body's ability to burn fat. Fucoxanthin is also touted as a natural remedy for the following health issues: diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, and obesity. The Benefits of Fucoxanthin Some preliminary research suggests that fucoxanthin may have a number of health-enhancing effects. For example, there's some evidence that fucoxanthin may reduce inflammation, as well as promote healthy functioning of the liver, blood vessels, brain, bones, skin, and eyes. Fucoxanthin also appears to stimulate the production of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). A type of omega-3 fatty acid, DHA has been found to protect against a range of health problems, including arthritis, atherosclerosis, and depression. Plant Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids While there's currently a lack of clinical trials testing its potential health benefits in humans, preliminary studies indicate that fucoxanthin may have certain effects. Here's a look at some findings from the available research: Obesity Fucoxanthin shows promise in the treatment and prevention of obesity, according to a research review published in Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases in 2015. In their analysis of previously published experimental studies, the review's authors found that fucoxanthin may fight obesity in a number of ways. Fucoxanthin may inhibit the build-up of abdominal fat and reduce build-up of fat in the liver. There's also some evidence that fucoxanthin may affect the body's levels of leptin (a hormone essential for hunger control). Diabetes An animal study published in Molecular Medicine Reports in 2009 found that fucoxanthin may aid in the management of diabetes. In the study, tests on mice demonstrated that fucoxanthin may help regulate blood sugar as well as treat insulin resistance. Cancer In preliminary studies on cell lines, scientists have observed that fucoxanthin may possess anti-cancer properties. These studies include a report published in Anticancer Research in 2015, which found that treatment with fucoxanthin may help thwart the proliferation of some breast cancer cells. It appears that fucoxanthin may suppress cancer growth in part by inducing apoptosis (a type of programmed cell death essential for stopping the proliferation of cancer cells), as well as by acting as an anti-angiogenesic agent (a type of substance that stalls the growth of new blood vessels). Side Effects Since there's currently a lack of studies testing fucoxanthin's effects in humans, little is known about the safety of long-term or regular use of fucoxanthin products and how it might interact with medications. One study reported increased total cholesterol levels in mice fed fucoxanthin. Consuming large or regular amounts of seaweed may elevate your iodine levels. Excess iodine intake may result in iodine poisoning and interfere with the function of your thyroid gland. Seaweed may contain heavy metals (such as arsenic, cadmium, and lead) and other contaminants. Pregnant and breastfeeding women shouldn't take fucoxanthin. The Bottom Line Due to a lack of scientific support for fucoxanthin's supposed health benefits, it's too soon to recommend the use of fucoxanthin supplements for any health-related purpose. If you're considering the use of fucoxanthin supplements, talk to your doctor before starting your supplement regimen. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get nutrition tips and advice to make healthy eating easier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. D’Orazio N, Gemello E, Gammone MA, De Girolamo M, Ficoneri C, Riccioni G. Fucoxantin: a treasure from the sea. Mar Drugs. 2012;10(3):604-616. doi:10.3390/md10030604 Peng J, Yuan J-P, Wu C-F, Wang J-H. Fucoxanthin, a marine carotenoid present in brown seaweeds and diatoms: metabolism and bioactivities relevant to human health. Mar Drugs. 2011;9(10):1806-1828. doi:10.3390/md9101806 Zhang H, Tang Y, Zhang Y, et al. Fucoxanthin: a promising medicinal and nutritional ingredient. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:723515. doi:10.1155/2015/723515 Muradian Kh, Vaiserman A, Min K-J, Fraifeld VE. Fucoxanthin and lipid metabolism: A minireview. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2015;25(10):891-897. doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2015.05.010 Maeda H, Hosokawa M, Sashima T, Murakami-Funayama K, Miyashita K. Anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects of fucoxanthin on diet-induced obesity conditions in a murine model. Mol Med Rep. 2009 Nov-Dec;2(6):897-902. doi:10.3892/mmr_00000189 Rwigemera A, Mamelona J, Martin LJ. Comparative effects between fucoxanthinol and its precursor fucoxanthin on viability and apoptosis of breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. Anticancer Res. 2015;35(1):207-219. Beppu F, Niwano Y, Tsukui T, Hosokawa M, Miyashita K. Single and repeated oral dose toxicity study of fucoxanthin (FX), a marine carotenoid, in mice. J Toxicol Sci. 2009;34(5):501-10. doi:10.2131/jts.34.501