Anti-Obesity Compound Found in Brown Seaweed
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Anti-Obesity Compound Found in Brown Seaweed - 9/17/2006 8:58:56 AM
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danmirage
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Interesting...
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Studies in animals suggest that brown seaweed, also known as wakame -- commonly used to flavor Asian soups and salads, contains a compound that promotes weight loss. The compound, called fucoxanthin, also has anti-diabetes effects.
At the 232nd American Chemical Society National Meeting in San Francisco today, Dr. Kazuo Miyashita from Hokkaido University reported seeing significant reductions in fat tissue in rats and obese mice fed the edible seaweed carotenoid fucoxanthin.
"The mechanism for this effect is a new one," Dr. Miyashita points out in a statement, explaining that fucoxanthin induces expression of the fat-burning protein UCP1 that accumulates in fat tissue around the internal organs. Mice fed fucoxanthin showed clear signs of UCP1 expression in fat tissue, whereas mice fed a control diet showed little expression of this protein.
The studies suggest that fucoxanthin-induced expression of UCP1 in fat tissue fuels the oxidation of fatty acids and production of heat energy in fat tissue mitochondria. Mitochondria, found in every cell, convert sugar and fatty acids into energy and play a key role in regulating metabolism.
Miyashita and colleagues also found that fucoxanthin has "strong" anti-diabetes effects by promoting the synthesis of DHA in the liver. DHA is an important fatty acid found in fish oil supplements. Animals fed fucoxanthin plus soybean oil showed an increase in DHA levels in the liver, comparable to that seen with fish oil supplementation, they note.
Prior studies by Miyashita's group have shown that fucoxanthin also helps promote the death of human prostate cancer cells in culture.
This finding, coupled with the team's current findings, suggest that this multi-tasking compound holds promise as a preventive agent for a variety of diseases.
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RE: Anti-Obesity Compound Found in Brown Seaweed - 9/18/2006 2:31:34 PM
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HEARTS
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It helps burn fat off by makeing more UCP1?
Or does it boost metabolism too?
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(in reply to danmirage)
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RE: Anti-Obesity Compound Found in Brown Seaweed - 9/19/2006 3:23:09 PM
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HEARTS
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So it burns the fat all by itself?
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(in reply to danmirage)
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RE: Anti-Obesity Compound Found in Brown Seaweed - 9/19/2006 4:02:30 PM
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danmirage
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The researcher reported that this mechanism of action caused the fat to oxidize and the local mitochondria to burn the fat and produce heat. It would appear the answer is, conditionally, yes.
We do not yet know the possible application or utility of this for an individual.
Eating loads of Wakame would provide more nutrients not considered in this research.
Fucoxanthin from edible seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida, shows antiobesity effect through UCP1 expression in white adipose tissues.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Jul 1;332(2):392-7.
Maeda H, Hosokawa M, Sashima T, Funayama K, Miyashita K.
Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is usually expressed only in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and a key molecule for metabolic thermogenesis to avoid an excess of fat accumulation. However, there is little BAT in adult humans. Therefore, UCP1 expression in tissues other than BAT is expected to reduce abdominal fat. Here, we show reduction of abdominal white adipose tissue (WAT) weights in rats and mice by feeding lipids from edible seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida. Clear signals of UCP1 protein and mRNA were detected in WAT of mice fed the Undaria lipids, although there is little expression of UCP1 in WAT of mice fed control diet. The Undaria lipids mainly consisted of glycolipids and seaweed carotenoid, fucoxanthin. In the fucoxanthin-fed mice, WAT weight significantly decreased and UCP1 was clearly expressed in the WAT, while there was no difference in WAT weight and little expression of UCP1 in the glycolipids-fed mice. This result indicates that fucoxanthin upregulates the expression of UCP1 in WAT, which may contribute to reducing WAT weight.
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(in reply to HEARTS)
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RE: Anti-Obesity Compound Found in Brown Seaweed - 9/20/2006 3:21:58 PM
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HEARTS
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quote:
ORIGINAL: danmirage
Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is usually expressed only in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and a key molecule for metabolic thermogenesis to avoid an excess of fat accumulation. However, there is little BAT in adult humans. Therefore, UCP1 expression in tissues other than BAT is expected to reduce abdominal fat. Here, we show reduction of abdominal white adipose tissue (WAT) weights in rats and mice by feeding lipids from edible seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida. Clear signals of UCP1 protein and mRNA were detected in WAT of mice fed the Undaria lipids, although there is little expression of UCP1 in WAT of mice fed control diet. The Undaria lipids mainly consisted of glycolipids and seaweed carotenoid, fucoxanthin. In the fucoxanthin-fed mice, WAT weight significantly decreased and UCP1 was clearly expressed in the WAT, while there was no difference in WAT weight and little expression of UCP1 in the glycolipids-fed mice. This result indicates that fucoxanthin upregulates the expression of UCP1 in WAT, which may contribute to reducing WAT weight.
I had to read that 4 times to understand it, but I do understand it now.
_____________________________
If it wasn't painfully difficult then you didn't do it right
age:18
5' 81/2"
173 lbs
goal : 195
supplements: Multi, fish oil
(in reply to danmirage)
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RE: Anti-Obesity Compound Found in Brown Seaweed - 9/26/2006 1:32:33 AM
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danmirage
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Comments from Dr. Joseph Mercola's site:
Brown seaweed, which is used for flavor in many Asian dishes, contains a compound that may reduce the accumulation of fat, which could help aid weight loss.
The compound, called fucoxanthin, is a brownish pigment that helps with brown seaweed's photosynthesis process. It is not found in significant amounts in other kinds of edible seaweed, such as green or red seaweed.
Fucoxanthin led to a 5 percent to 10 percent reduction in the weight of test animals, and could be developed into an obesity-fighting drug or supplement. The compound targets abdominal fat in particular.
A study of more than 200 rats and mice showed that fucoxanthin appears to fight fat through two different mechanisms. First, it stimulates a protein call UCP1, which causes fat oxidation. The protein is particularly abundant in the abdominal area, which is why the compound might be especially effective at reducing abdominal fat.
Fucoxanthin also causes the liver to produce DHA, a type of omega-3 fat that reduces LDL ("bad") cholesterol, which is known to contribute to obesity and heart disease.
However, because the fucoxanthin is tightly bound to the protein in the seaweeds, it is poorly absorbed by the body when whole seaweed is consumed. An extract could yield stronger results.
Perhaps this in part explains why Asians eating traditional diets seem to have no challenge with the battle of the bulge. It looks like brown seaweed, such as the kind used in traditional miso soup, is a natural weight-loss aid.
This fucoxanthin could be another good way to get more critical omega-3 fats into your diet, which is essential not just for maintaining your ideal weight, but for your brain function and your general health as well.
However, it may be up to five years before somebody develops an effective, natural fucoxanthin extract, if one can be made at all. You needn't wait till then as although the extract might be helpful, you can get the benefits by eating the whole unprocessed food.
Typically, this strategy is far wiser as there is a tremendous synergy that occurs when you eat food in its natural unprocessed state -- one that simply cannot possibly occur when you consume food in a refined processed state.
Other strategies to get your weight under control naturally, safely and effectively include following these simple steps:
1. Reduce (with the idea of eventually eliminating) your intake of grains and sugars. The body's storage capacity for carbohydrates is quite limited, so when you eat an excess of grains and sugars they are converted, via insulin, into fat.
2. Begin to modify your diet according to your body's unique chemistry. This is the best way to start improving your diet and learn more about the right kind of foods you should eat. What may be healthy for others is not necessarily healthy for you and vice-versa. That's why eating according to your body's needs is the proven way to ascertain which foods work best for you.
3. Get moving on an exercise program. There is no shortage of literature documenting the major benefits exercise has on improving one's health and lowering the risk of diseases. Determine the proper dosage of exercise you need and start moving today.
4. Improve your emotional health and well-being. It doesn't matter how devoted you are to a proper diet and lifestyle, emotional health is absolutely essential to your physical health and healing.
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(in reply to danmirage)
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