Supplementation of Fucoxanthin Rich‐Seaweed Extract Improves Lipid Profiles and Suppresses Body Fat in Mice

Abstract

This study investigated the hypolipidemic effect of fucoxanthin from seaweed ethanol extract in mice fed a high‐fat diet. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into 3 groups; control (HF; 20% fat, w/w), positive control (PC; HF diet + 0.2% conjugated linoleic acid, wt/wt), and fucoxanthin (HF‐Fx; HF diet + 0.2% Fx, wt/wt) and fed for 6 weeks. Fucoxanthin supplementation significantly lowered body weight and relative weights of total white adipose tissue in the HF‐Fx group compared to the HF group. HF‐Fx supplementation significantly lowered plasma and hepatic lipid levels compared to the PC and HF groups. The accumulation of hepatic lipid droplets and the epididymal white adipocyte size were less in the HF‐Fx and PC groups than in the HF group. Hepatic phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, malic enzyme, fatty acid synthase, and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase activities were significantly lower in the HF‐Fx group compared to the HF group. Consequently, the fucoxathin supplementation with a high‐fat diet seemed to be effective for suppressing body weight gain and for improving plasma and hepatic lipid metabolism in mice.