Seaweeds as potential therapeutic interventions for the metabolic syndrome

Seaweeds are a characteristic part of the traditional diet in countries such as Japan and Korea; these countries also have a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome than countries such as the USA and Australia. This suggests that seaweeds may contain compounds that reduce the characteristic signs of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders 2013-09, Vol.14 (3), p.299-308
Main Authors: Kumar, Senthil Arun, Brown, Lindsay
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Diabetes
Endocrinology
Humans
Internal Medicine
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Metabolic Syndrome - metabolism
Metabolic Syndrome - prevention & control
Metabolic Syndrome - therapy
Peptides - chemistry
Polysaccharides - chemistry
Seaweed - chemistry
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Summary:Seaweeds are a characteristic part of the traditional diet in countries such as Japan and Korea; these countries also have a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome than countries such as the USA and Australia. This suggests that seaweeds may contain compounds that reduce the characteristic signs of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver and inflammation in the metabolic syndrome. Potentially bioactive compounds from seaweeds include polysaccharides, peptides, pigments, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids. This review emphasises current research on these compounds in isolated cells, animal models and patients. Key problems for future research include chemical characterisation of the bioactive principles, defining pharmacological responses in all aspects of the metabolic syndrome, determining if a therapeutic dose has been administered, and defining oral bioavailability of the active ingredients.
ISSN:1389-9155
1573-2606
DOI:10.1007/s11154-013-9254-8