Fucoidan-Rich Seaweed Extract Enhances Gut Microbial Diversity and Function in Healthy Adults

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in healthy adults evaluated a fucoidan-rich extract from Saccharina latissima (SLE-F) for its effects on the gut microbiome. Participants received 125 mg or 500 mg of SLE-F, or placebo, twice daily for four weeks. High-dose SLE-F improved microbial diversity, increased beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, and Lachnospiraceae, and reduced inflammation-associated taxa like Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadota. Functional analysis showed enhanced short-chain fatty acid and carbohydrate metabolism pathways, supported by in vitro findings of increased postbiotic production. The extract was well tolerated with only mild, nonspecific adverse events, suggesting SLE-F as a safe and promising microbiome-modulating ingredient for gut health.

Source: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1545