In a groundbreaking study published in March 2025 by researchers at the University of Rochester, New York, fucoidan has emerged as a potent activator of sirtuins — enzymes that play a pivotal role in regulating cellular aging processes. The study's most remarkable finding was that fucoidan supplementation extended the lifespan of male mice by 13%, suggesting its significant anti - aging potential, particularly in male organisms. To assess the overall health of the test subjects, the research team employed the Frailty Index (FI), a metric designed to measure the cumulative burden of health deficits associated with aging. Similar to epigenetic clocks, FI serves as a reliable predictor of mortality, taking into account various age - related indicators such as hypertension and mobility issues in humans, or gait abnormalities in mice. Meta - analyses have long established that frailty severely compromises the quality of life in the elderly. Notably, the study revealed that fucoidan - fed mice exhibited a significantly slower progression of frailty, indicating its efficacy in promoting healthy aging.
In a comparative analysis, researchers compared fucoidan with well - known compounds such as resveratrol and quercetin, which were previously thought to activate SIRT6 — the sirtuin most closely linked to lifespan extension. Contrary to expectations, most of the tested substances, including resveratrol and quercetin, suppressed sirtuin activity. In stark contrast, fucoidan demonstrated an astonishing ability to enhance sirtuin activity nearly fourfold, positioning itself as a front - runner in anti - aging research.
Fucoidan: A Multifaceted Marine Heteropolysaccharide
Fucoidan, a sulfated heteropolysaccharide, is primarily composed of L - fucose, sulfate groups, uronic acids, and additional monosaccharides like glucose, xylose, galactose, and mannose. This complex carbohydrate is a key constituent of brown algae and certain marine invertebrates, including sea urchins and sea cucumbers. First isolated from marine brown algae in 1913, fucoidan has since been officially named according to IUPAC standards, though it is occasionally referred to as fucosan or sulfated fucosan.
The biological activity of fucoidan is intricately linked to its chemical structure, covering molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, degree of sulfation, and the spatial arrangement of sulfate groups. Moreover, the exact composition of fucoidan can vary significantly depending on the algal source, geographical origin, as well as the extraction and purification methods used.
Fucoidan's Efficacy in Managing Hyperuricemia
In 2025, a research group from Ningbo University published a study highlighting fucoidan's dose - dependent alleviation of hyperuricemia and modulation of the gut microbiota in mice. Using a hyperuricemia (HUA) model induced by potassium oxonate (PO) and hypoxanthine, the researchers administered fucoidan derived from kelp at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg for 14 days. By measuring relevant biomarkers with specialized test kits and analyzing the gut microbiota through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, they systematically evaluated the therapeutic effects of fucoidan.
The results were compelling: fucoidan decreased serum uric acid and blood urea nitrogen levels in a dose - dependent manner. Mice receiving 200 and 400 mg/kg of fucoidan showed serum creatinine levels comparable to those of the control group. Additionally, fucoidan downregulated the expression of key proteins involved in uric acid metabolism, including xanthine oxidase (XOD), adenosine deaminase (ADA), and glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9), while upregulating ATP - binding cassette sub - family G member 2 (ABCG2).
With over two decades of use as a natural remedy for acute and chronic kidney diseases in China, fucoidan's role in renal health is well - established. Given that 90% of primary hyperuricemia cases are caused by reduced renal uric acid excretion, a 2024 study clarified fucoidan's protective mechanism: it inhibits uric acid - induced NLRP3 - mediated pyroptosis of HK - 2 cells by suppressing the NF - κB signaling pathway, thereby exerting anti - nephritis effects.
Diverse Biological Activities of Fucoidan
1) Antioxidant Properties
Fucoidan's biological versatility stems from its unique physical and chemical properties, with antioxidant capacity being a notable feature. Higher - molecular - weight fucoidans generally exhibit stronger antioxidant activity because of their complex structures, which enhance their ability to neutralize free radicals. Sulfation also plays a crucial role; fucoidans with a higher sulfate content demonstrate superior free - radical - scavenging capabilities.
In various biological models, fucoidan has proven its protective effects against oxidative damage. For instance, fucoidan from kelp significantly inhibited the increase in lipid peroxide (LPO) levels in the serum, liver, and spleen of diabetic mice. It effectively scavenged superoxide radicals, showed moderate activity against hydroxyl radicals, and had a relatively weaker impact on 1,1 - diphenyl - 2 - picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Moreover, it protected rat red blood cells from H₂O₂ - induced hemolysis and shielded rat liver homogenates from FeSO₄ - ascorbic acid - induced lipid peroxidation.
2) Hypolipidemic Effects
Functioning as a sialic - acid - like substance, fucoidan increases the negative charge on cell surfaces, facilitating cholesterol deposition and subsequently reducing serum cholesterol levels. Kelp - derived fucoidan has been shown to significantly lower total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low - density lipoprotein levels in hypercholesterolemic mice and hyperlipidemic rats, while increasing high - density lipoprotein levels. It effectively prevents the development of experimental hypercholesterolemia in mice and reduces serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in hyperlipidemic patients without causing liver or kidney damage. Low - molecular - weight sulfated fucoidan (average Mw ~8000 Da) also demonstrated potent hypolipidemic effects in hyperlipidemic rats, and fucoidan oligosaccharides exhibited antihypertensive properties in rats with renovascular hypertension, potentially by inhibiting plasma angiotensin II production.
3) Immunomodulatory and Anti - Inflammatory Actions
Studies have shown that fucoidans extracted from nine different brown algae effectively suppressed leukocyte recruitment in rat inflammation models, regardless of their fucose or sulfate content or structural characteristics. For example, fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida alleviated pulmonary inflammation and downregulated Th2 - dominant responses, making it a potential treatment for allergic inflammation. It also mitigated arthritis inflammation induced by complete Freund's adjuvant in rats. In another study, fucoidan from Turbinaria ornata reduced plasma levels of TNF - α, IL - 6, and PGE2 in rats treated with complete Freund's adjuvant, restoring them to normal levels.
Fucoidan exerts its anti - inflammatory effects through multiple mechanisms, including blocking lymphocyte adhesion and invasion, inhibiting various enzymes, and inducing apoptosis. One of the most studied mechanisms involves downregulating the MAPK and NF - κB signaling pathways, thereby reducing the production of pro - inflammatory cytokines.
Reference：
1，Biashad, S.A., Hillpot, E., Francesco, M.,et al. SIRT6 activator fucoidan extends healthspan and lifespan in aged wild-type mice. 2025. bioRxiv. 645072.
2，Yan-Xin Wang,Xiao-Long Chen,Kai Zho，et al. Fucoidan dose-dependently alleviated hyperuricemia and modulated gut microbiota in mice. 2025. Food & Medicine Homology.
3，Bo Li, Fei Lu, Xinjun Wei, Ruixiang Zhao. Fucoidan: Structure and Bioactivity. 2008. Molecules. 13(8):1671-1695.
4，Qiulin Yue, Yongxuan Liu, Fujia Li,et al. Antioxidant and anticancer properties of fucoidan isolated from Saccharina Japonica brown algae. 2025. Scientific Reports.
5，Elisaveta Apostolova,Paolina Lukova,,Alexandra Baldzhieva,et al. Immunomodulatory and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Fucoidan: A Review.
Copyright © Herbfields.net. No unauthorized reprinting or plagiarism.