The basic principle of diabetes prevention and treatment is to reduce carbohydrates in a person’s diet and increase physical activity. Unfortunately, it seems like the number of people diagnosed with diabetes is growing exponentially because most people do not follow the basic principles of a healthy lifestyle, also known as HLS.
Hence, I want to share an essential study, “Fucoidan—New Principle Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes,” by Emil Mukhamejanov et al. According to the study, life originated in the ocean and is inundated with all bioactive compounds on land. Additionally, epidemiological evidence shows that people in Japan and the South eat plenty of seafood, allowing them to live a longer and healthier life. Therefore, the most critical bioactive component of regular intake of macroalgae is the sulfated polysaccharide fucoidan.
This review focuses on the anti-diabetic properties of fucoidan. A pilot study was conducted in a clinical trial observing diabetic patients. Inhibition of α-glucosidase is a practical therapeutic approach for type 2 diabetes (2D) associated with reducing postprandial hyperglycemia.
The study evaluated the α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory effects of 11 fucoidans extracted from various brown algae. Although no significant α-amylase inhibition was observed, fucoidan (FvF) from Fucusvesiculosus exhibited the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, with an IC50 (concentration of drug that inhibits the enzyme by 50%) value of 67.9 μg/mL.
Moreover, FvF at a concentration of 200 μg/mL exhibited very mild cytotoxicity against IEC-6 cells, as shown by the MTT assay. In vivo studies showed that FvF lowered fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels in mice, with minimal effects on body weight. Sadly, in diabetic patients, there is an increased risk of developing peripheral arterial disease (PAD) damage and tissue ischemia. This also results in reduced tissue energy supply, especially in the lower extremities, manifested in the ‘diabetic foot’ symptom.
Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats with type 2 diabetes (2D) occurred PAD by injecting sodium laurate into the femoral artery. Low molecular weight fucoidan (LMWF) (20, 40, or 80 mg/kg/day) or cilostazol (100 mg/kg/day) were each administered to diabetic PAD rats for four weeks. The result revealed that LMWF remarkably improved foot ulceration and debility, reversed hyperreactive platelet aggregation, improved endothelium-dependent vasodilation, and improved plantar perfusion.
Violating pancreas activity is an essential reason for the development of 2D. The effect of fucoidan on insulin secretion was also evaluated in Goto-Kakizaki rats (Wistar control). Oral intake of fucoidan for 13 weeks contributed to a decrease in glucose, insulin, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP).
Lipids are essential pathogenic factors in the development of diabetes. Therefore, the lipid-improving spectrum is the principle in preventing and treating diabetes development. Fucoidan treatment is evidenced by decreased lipid accumulation and downregulation of adipocyte markers, which inhibits 3Ta3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation. Fucoidan inhibited the expression and late activation of early CCAAT enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha), which is involved in the maturation of specific blood cells, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma).
In conclusion, as per the above study results, the sulfated polysaccharide fucoidan can be attributed to functional foods and may be used in dietary therapy to aid and even replace diabetes treatment.
Source: Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology 7 (2019) 316-322
doi: 10.17265/2328-2150/2019.06.005