fucoxanthin and Metabolic-Syndrome

Obesity, which results from an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure, has become a major health risk factor worldwide, causing numerous and various diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Fucoxanthin, a specific carotenoid in brown algae, has garnered much attention for its anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects attributable to a unique mechanism. Fucoxanthin induces uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression in white adipose tissue (WAT). That inner membrane mitochondrial protein, UCP1, can dissipate energy through oxidation of fatty acids and heat production. Furthermore, fucoxanthin improves insulin resistance and ameliorates blood glucose levels through down-regulation of adipocytokines related to insulin resistance in WAT and up-regulation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in skeletal muscle. Algae fucoxanthin is a beneficial compound for the prevention of the metabolic syndrome.

Topics: Adipokines; Adipose Tissue, White; Animals; Blood Glucose; Diabetes Mellitus; Disease Models, Animal; Energy Metabolism; Fatty Acids; Gene Expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Glucose Transporter Type 4; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Ion Channels; Metabolic Syndrome; Mice; Mitochondrial Proteins; Muscle, Skeletal; Obesity; Oxidation-Reduction; Phaeophyceae; Phytotherapy; Uncoupling Protein 1; Xanthophylls

Brown algae and its carotenoids have been shown to have a positive influence on obesity and its comorbidities. This study evaluated the effect of Undaria pinnatifida and fucoxanthin on biochemical, physiological and inflammation markers related to obesity and on the expression of genes engaged on white adipose tissue lipid metabolism in a murine model of diet-induced obesity. The treatments improved energy expenditure, β-oxidation and adipogenesis by upregulating PPARα, PGC1α, PPARγ and UCP-1. Adipogenesis was also confirmed by image analysis of the retroperitoneal adipose tissue, by measuring cell area, perimeter and cellular density. Additionally, the treatments, ameliorated adipose tissue accumulation, insulin resistance, blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides concentration in serum, and reduced lipogenesis and inflammation by downregulating acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) gene expression, increasing serum concentration and expression of adiponectin as well as downregulating IL-6 expression. Both fucoxanthin and Undaria pinnatifida may be considered for treating obesity and other diseases related.

Topics: Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase; Adiponectin; Adipose Tissue, White; Animals; Biomarkers; Diet, High-Fat; Diet, Vegetarian; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Inflammation; Interleukin-6; Lipogenesis; Male; Metabolic Syndrome; Obesity; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; Phaeophyceae; PPAR alpha; PPAR gamma; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Uncoupling Protein 1; Undaria; Xanthophylls

Fucoxanthin has a unique structure including an unusual allenic bond and 5, 6-monoepoxide in its molecule. We found that abdominal white adipose tissue (WAT) weights of rats and mice fed fucoxanthin were significantly lower than those fed a control diet. The daily intake of fucoxanthin in mice also caused a significant reductions of body weight. Clear signals of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and its mRNA were detected by Western and Northern blot analyses in abdominal WAT in mice fed fucoxanthin, although there is little expression of UCP1 in WAT in mice fed a control diet. UCP1 expression in WAT by fucoxanthin intake leads to oxidation of fatty acids and heat production in WAT mitochondria. Substrate oxidation can directly reduce WAT in animals. Fucoxanthin intake also significantly reduced blood glucose and plasma insulin. Furthermore, feeding fucoxanthin significantly increased the level of hepatic docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a most important n-3 functional polyunsaturated fatty acid in biological systems. These multi-functionalities of fucoxanthin indicate that it is an important bioactive carotenoid that is beneficial for the prevention of the metabolicsyndrome.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Animals; Blood Glucose; Carotenoids; Female; Humans; Insulin; Ion Channels; Male; Metabolic Syndrome; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Mitochondrial Proteins; Obesity; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; RNA, Messenger; Seaweed; Uncoupling Protein 1; Xanthophylls