Dietary Combination of Fucoxanthin and Fish Oil Attenuates the Weight Gain of White Adipose Tissue and Decreases Blood Glucose in Obese/Diabetic KK-A^y Mice

Abstract

Fucoxanthin is a marine carotenoid found in edible brown seaweeds. We previously reported that dietary fucoxanthin attenuates the weight gain of white adipose tissue (WAT) of diabetic/obese KK- A(y) mice. In this study, to evaluate the antiobesity and antidiabetic effects of fucoxanthin and fish oil, we investigated the effect on the WAT weight, blood glucose, and insulin levels of KK- A(y) mice. Furthermore, the expression level of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and adipokine mRNA in WAT were measured. After 4 weeks of feeding, 0.2% fucoxanthin in the diet markedly attenuated the gain of WAT weight in KK- A(y) mice with increasing UCP1 expression compared with the control mice. The WAT weight of the mice fed 0.1% fucoxanthin and 6.9% fish oil was also significantly lower than that of the mice fed fucoxanthin alone. In addition, 0.2% fucoxanthin markedly decreased the blood glucose and plasma insulin concentrations in KK- A(y) mice. The mice fed with the combination diet of 0.1% fucoxanthin and fish oil also showed improvements similar to that of 0.2% fucoxanthin. Leptin and tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha) mRNA expression in WAT were significantly down-regulated by 0.2% fucoxanthin. These results suggest that dietary fucoxanthin decreases the blood glucose and plasma insulin concentration of KK- A(y) along with down-regulating TNFalpha mRNA. In addition, the combination of fucoxanthin and fish oil is more effective for attenuating the weight gain of WAT than feeding with fucoxanthin alone.

Antidiabetic potential of marine algae by inhibiting key metabolic enzymes

“…The above results supplement previous work on S. polycystum, which was reported to reduce blood glucose and plasma insulin levels in diabetic/obese mice (Maeda et al 2007). The phytochemicals and soluble fibres present in the extracts of S. polycystum have cholesterol-lowering effects and affect intestinal glucose absorption (Taskinen 2002;Vaugelade et al 2000).…”

Anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects of fucoxanthin on diet-induced obesity conditions in a murine model

“…in a previous study, we demonstrated that fucoxanthin, the active component in Wls, has an anti-obesity effect (5). The main mechanism of this effect was shown to be the induction of ucP1 in WaT by fucoxanthin.…”

“…Fucoxanthin is a characteristic carotenoid of brown algae including edible species such as Undaria pinnatifida and Hijikia fusiformis. We recently reported the suppression of the development of white adipose tissue (WaT) by fucoxanthin in obese/diabetic kk-A y mice (4,5). expression of uncoupling protein 1 (ucP1), which plays an important role in energy expenditure, was induced by dietary fucoxanthin in WaT but not in brown adipose tissue; this ucP1 expression was responsible for the antiobesity effect of fucoxanthin.…”

“…expression of uncoupling protein 1 (ucP1), which plays an important role in energy expenditure, was induced by dietary fucoxanthin in WaT but not in brown adipose tissue; this ucP1 expression was responsible for the antiobesity effect of fucoxanthin. Furthermore, dietary fucoxanthin regulated adipocytokine secretion, thus preventing hyperglycemia in a type 2 diabetes kk-A y mouse model (5). The adipocyte as an endocrine cell has recently been recognized for its role in the secretion of biologically active mediators, termed adipokines/chemokines, including leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TnF-α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (McP-1) (6)(7)(8).…”

Nutraceutical Effects of Fucoxanthin for Obesity and Diabetes Therapy: A Review

“…Fucoxanthin shows anti-diabetic effects by changing of adipocyte cell properties 11,12,18 . KK-A y mice not only developed obesity, but also developed hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia along with insulin resistance.…”