In “The Human Microbiome,” the University of Washinton mentioned that the microbiome is a community of microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses that exist in a specific environment. Bacteria in our microbiome digest our food, regulate our immune system, protect against other disease-causing bacteria, and help produce vitamins such as B vitamins B12, thiamine, riboflavin, and vitamin K necessary for blood clotting.
In addition to these bacteria, the body requires supplements. On a positive note, Fucoidan, a natural supplement, has been proposed as a potential prebiotic agent for functional food and pharmaceutical development. However, while previous studies have shown favorable modulation of the gut microbiota by Fucoidan, changes in global microbial architecture remained inaccessible.
So, in this blog, I would like to share the relation between Fucoidan and the microbiome by using the following study, “Therapies from Fucoidan: New Developments in section 6 Microbiome and Fucoidan” by J. Helen Fitton et al.
They remark that the oral, digestive, and skin microbiomes can all be modulated by the presence of Fucoidan. Interactions between the microbiome and disease states continue to emerge as studies of the microbiome, virome, and phagosomes progress.
The effectiveness, response, and efficacy of drug and checkpoint inhibitor therapy, cancer, obesity, inflammatory diseases, and mental health are all linked to the microbiome.
Fucoidan has been noted to induce favorable microbiome changes and independently regulate the checkpoint PD-L1 in cancer cells. Also, the beneficial effects of fucoidan intake on the microbiome and gut integrity were seen in breast cancer rat models. Thus, these changes can be viewed as additional potential mechanisms by which Fucoidan can act as a preventive against breast cancer.
Oral bacteria were particularly influenced by Fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus at inhibitory concentrations less than 1 mg/mL. Inhibition of biofilm formation and planktonic cell proliferation was also observed, demonstrating the promise of fucoidan inclusion in dental products.
In a double-blind clinical trial, fucoidan-containing preparations significantly suppressed gastric damage. In addition, Fucoidan can prevent norovirus attached to the highly contagious gastric mucosa, for which there are no effective preventive or therapeutic methods.
Based on previous studies showing inhibition of influenza virus by Fucoidan, synthetic Fucoidan was highly influential in binding viral hemagglutinin.
This evidence suggests that Fucoidan has excellent potential to modulate the microbiome and prevent the binding of infectious agents and shows that Fucoidan can be used for health-enhancing treatments.
