Potential anti-obesity effects of fucoidan from Malaysian brown seaweed (Sargassum binderi) by in vivo study

Brown seaweed is a natural source of fucoidan, a polysaccharide known for its remarkable bioactivities. This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of fucoidan (F-sar) from Malaysian brown seaweed (Sargassum binderi) using Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were divided into four dietary groups, including normal diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD with orlistat (HFD-O) and HFD with F-sar (HFD-F) for 28 days. Results showed a significant (P < 0.05) 36% reduction in body weight gain and an 18% decrease in visceral fat mass in the HFD-F group compared to the HFD group. Additionally, F-sar treatment also significantly (P < 0.05) reduced insulin (threefold) and leptin (1.3-fold) levels in blood serum. Improvements in obesity-related biomarkers by F-sar were observed with a 1.1-1.4-fold decrease in serum lipid profiles of total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), without causing kidney or liver toxicity. These findings highlight fucoidan's potential as an anti-obesity, especially in the food and pharmaceutical industries.