Fucoxanthin in the management of obesity and its related disorders

Interest in a novel biological agent fucoxanthin (Fx) has been growing in recent years, which connects Fx to increases in energy expenditure and has implications for the management of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Several molecular targets offer the most hope for influencing energy expenditure. One of the keys for success will be uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Fx can reduce the excess fat accumulation in abdominal white adipose tissue (WAT), which is primarily based on the up-regulation of the thermogenesis through UCP1 expression in both brown adipose tissue (BAT) and abdominal WAT. Fx down-regulates the expression of pro-inflammatory adipokines involved in insulin resistance from abdominal WAT and subsequently normalizes the blood glucose level. In addition, Fx can promote glucose utilization in skeletal muscle by up-regulating glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) expression and promoting its translocation to the cell membrane from the cytosol.