(Fucoidan) What Effects Does It Have on the Human Body?
Medical Supporter — Information Notice
This article is a summary of international medical information and is not medical advice; it cannot replace the diagnosis or treatment plan of your attending physician. The medical technologies, drug information and clinical data presented here are compiled from public literature and official statements of major Japanese medical institutions; the applicability and outcome of any therapy vary with each patient and must be assessed individually by a qualified physician.
- December 8, 2019
- Read time: 2 minutes
Updated: March 11, 2020
Recent research indicates that fucoidan is beneficial for health and beauty, and it is now included in many health foods and cosmetics. Its range of effects is impressively wide. Beyond the anticipated effects on cancer cells and allergy suppression, it can also be used for skin moisturization and anti-aging, drawing increasing attention from the medical community.
Fucoidan has the effect of activating immune cells in the body such as NK cells. By consuming fucoidan, the level of a substance called IFN-gamma increases in the body, which activates immune cells including NK cells. Additionally, U-fucoidan contained within fucoidan can induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Although not all of fucoidan's mechanisms of action have been fully elucidated, many experiments and tests have shown positive results, attracting the attention of many physicians.
As mentioned above, in addition to activating immune cells such as NK cells and enhancing the body's immune function, fucoidan is also expected to suppress allergic reactions. Fucoidan can inhibit Th2 cells — which are involved in eliminating allergens from the body — from overworking, reducing inflammation. It can also inhibit histamine to alleviate itching. For those who are prone to everyday allergic reactions (such as dust) and seasonal allergies (such as pollen), taking fucoidan is recommended for further improvement. Patients with atopic dermatitis caused by immune abnormalities may refer to the following section on fucoidan's effects on the skin.
Seaweed such as kelp and kombu use their own fucoidan to prevent drying and injury. Therefore, cosmetics containing fucoidan can be expected to have high moisturizing effects and protective function. They also have antioxidant properties, preventing wrinkles and skin dullness caused by cell oxidation, achieving anti-aging effects. These benefits can be obtained through topical application of cosmetics or by consuming fucoidan through diet. However, note that the fucoidan content in seaweed is relatively low — to achieve the above effects, very large amounts of seaweed would need to be consumed. For those wishing to obtain fucoidan through diet, health supplement products are recommended to improve intake efficiency.
[Important Note] We recommend that regular medical treatment by physicians be the primary approach, and that health supplements be purchased after consulting a physician or clinical nutritionist. In terms of cancer adjuvant supplements currently available, the most common are: high-protein supplements to boost patient nutrition; amino acids such as glutamine to assist tissue repair; and polysaccharides such as fucoidan to achieve immune regulation and anti-inflammatory effects. Select based on individual needs and discuss with your physician how to make nutritional supplementation more comprehensive.
Source: https://www.olive-hitomawashi.com/column/2019/01/post-3602.html
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