Fucoxanthin
Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid pigment found in brown seaweeds such as wakame and in other algae. It gives them their brownish color.
What did the newer weight-loss trial find?
In a 12-week trial, 37 women with overweight received a microalgae extract supplying 4.4 mg fucoxanthin daily or placebo alongside diet and exercise. The extract did not add to weight or fat loss. Some other measures, including blood lipids and aerobic fitness, improved; these findings from a small trial need confirmation. 1
This trial found no added weight loss; earlier combination-product findings cannot isolate fucoxanthin. 1 2
A small metabolic-syndrome study
A 12-week trial randomized 28 people with metabolic syndrome to 12 mg daily or placebo. The abstract reports improvements in weight, waist circumference and metabolic measures in the fucoxanthin group, but does not clearly quantify placebo-adjusted changes. This is a preliminary signal, not a settled treatment effect. 3
The small sample and reporting limits leave the size of any benefit uncertain. 3
Effects by health goal
Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.
Longevity2 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
Cardiovascular1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Weight Management2 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
Organ Function1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Sources
- Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
- Effect of Fucoxanthin on Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin Sensitivity, and Insulin Secretion Journal of Medicinal Food, 2023