Abstract

FIALHO, Ana et al. Fucoxanthin: a solution to obesity?. Acta Port Nutr [online]. 2020, n.21, pp.42-45. ISSN 2183-5985.  https://doi.org/10.21011/apn.2020.2109.

Fucoxanthin is one of the most abundant carotenoids in the marine environment, and it can be found in microalgae and macroalgae. Currently, there has been an increase in studies with this compound, due to its multiple health benefits, namely its anti-obesogenic effect. The present narrative review article pretends to caracterize the metabolization processes and toxicity, as well as the mechanisms of action of fucoxanthin in the control of obesity. This research was conducted in the database “PubMed” using “fucoxanthin”, “anti-inflammatory effect” and “obesity” as keywords. From the mentioned source, we analyzed 44 articles and selected 28, from 2015 to 2020. After administration of fucoxanthin, it’s rapidly metabolized to fucoxanthinol. Part of this metabolite is subsequently dehydrogenated to amarouciaxanthin A in the liver. Studies found that fucoxanthin has therapeutic properties, with a notable role in obesity. Additionally, it verified that fucoxanthin acts in this process, stimulating UCP1 expression, reducing white adipose tissue and inhibiting the intracellular accumulation of lipids in the pre-adipocyte. It demonstrated that fucoxanthin could have a role in the control of obesity, through the expression of UCP1. One of the significant limitations of the present research was the fact that most of the studies used a non-human model and different doses. Nevertheless, there are some studies carried out on mice that demonstrate LD50 is probably higher than 2000 mg/ kg of weight. According to the previously defined objective, it was possible to caracterize the metabolization processes and toxicity, as well as the mechanisms of action of fucoxanthin, as an anti-obesogenic compound.

Keywords : Anti-inflammatory effect; Fucoxanthin; Obesity; Adipose tissue; UCP1.

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