The results suggest fucoidan can reduce testosterone-induced BPH symptoms in rats, which indicates its potential as a natural option for supporting prostate health, according to a Marinova-funded study conducted in India.
This is significant in Asia as the region has a long history of seaweed consumption. The health properties of fucoidan will be familiar to consumers in the region, especially in Japan.
Fucoidan, a complex sulfated polysaccharide, has been shown to inhibit growth and induce apoptosis in prostate cancer cells, said Marinova’s scientific affairs director Dr Corinna Dwan. This warranted further exploration of fucoidan’s potential in supporting prostate health, specifically in BPH given the disease burden on the quality of life for men.
BPH is a non-cancerous condition where the prostate grows larger, often because of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone that stimulates cell growth in the prostate.
Its prevalence ranges from 20–62% amongst men aged 50 and older. BPH development and progression have been linked to inflammation, cellular proliferation, oxidative stress and apoptosis.
Inflammation can worsen the condition by damaging tissue, increasing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, and triggering the release of inflammatory substances. An imbalance in cell growth and cell death also contributes to the enlargement.
These changes can cause inflammation and stiffness, affecting muscle activity in the prostate, potentially leading to blocked urine flow and lower urinary tract symptoms.
Potential as a safe, natural option
Researchers found that existing drugs have limitations and can lead to side effects, such as erectile dysfunction, hypotension, and asthenia. They therefore aim to find ways to manage BPH symptoms through natural options before commencing drug interventions.
There is limited availability of efficacious, natural compounds in supporting prostate health. Fucoidan stood out because of its known benefits, like reducing inflammation, acting as an antioxidant, and supporting the immune system, said Dr Dwan.
“Research has shown that fucoidan can help to reduce systemic inflammation by activating the NF-kB pathway and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines (inflammatory molecules). It may also inhibit selectins, which could stop neutrophils (inflammatory cells) from entering tissue spaces, reducing inflammation,” said Dr Dwan.
Fucoidan can be extracted from two species of brown seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida and Fucus vesiculosus. Fucoidan from these species have previously been researched and clinically tested – for example, one study showed that fucoidan can influence immunity, inflammation, and neurological function.
For this recent animal study, Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan was selected due to the positive results from previously published research on inflammation and apoptosis.
The study
Researchers investigated the effect of fucoidan extracted from Undaria pinnatifida (UPF) on testosterone-induced BPH using an in vivo model.
This investigation also compared the effects of UPF with finasteride. Finasteride is an FDA-approved drug commonly used in the treatment of BPH. It works by inhibiting the 5α-reductase enzyme, which is responsible for converting testosterone into DHT.
In a 28-day study, 48 rats were randomly divided into six groups: G1 – vehicle control (no intervention); G2 – BHP control (testosterone 3mg/kg); G3 – reference control (finasteride 10mg/kg + testosterone 3mg/kg); G4 – fucoidan (40 mg/kg) + testosterone (3mg/kg); G5 – fucoidan (400mg/kg) + testosterone (3mg/kg); and G6 – fucoidan alone (400mg/kg).
UPF was dissolved in distilled water and finasteride tablets were crushed into powder and dissolved in 0.5% carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC). Finasteride (G3) and UPF (G4, G5 and G6) were orally administered two hours before the administration of testosterone. Testosterone was dissolved in corn oil and administered subcutaneously at a dose of 3mg/kg body weight.
The dose formulations were orally administered to the intervention groups for 28 consecutive days. On day 29, three mL of blood samples were collected from each animal.
The animals were observed for clinical signs, body weight, feed consumption, prostate weight, prostate index, and biochemical markers such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin- 1β (IL-1β), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
Testosterone and DHT levels were evaluated in both serum and prostate.
“The most important finding was that UPF treatment significantly inhibited the progression of testosterone-induced BPH in rats. This was confirmed by the reduction in testosterone and DHT levels in both the prostate and serum, along with a decrease in PSA levels. Compared to the BPH control group, noticeable reductions in prostate weight, prostate index, and histopathological changes were observed following treatment with UPF,” wrote researchers in Research and Reports in Urology.
For example, post intervention, G3, G4 and G5 had significantly lower DHT prostate levels (9.63pg/ml, 9.84pg/ml, and 10.99pg/ml respectively) when compared to G2 (16.42pg/ml). There was no significant difference between the BPH control group G2 and UPF alone group G6.
PSA serum level for G3 was 191.75pg/ml, 313.63pg/ml for G4, and 294.25pg/ml for G5 – significantly lower when compared to the BPH control group G2, which had a PSA serum level of 998pg/ml.
In the BPH control group G2, prostate weight and prostate index were 1431mg and 5.61 respectively – significantly higher compared to the vehicle control group G1 with prostate weight of 552.18mg and prostate index of 1.65.
The UPF alone group G6 demonstrated significantly lower prostate weight at 936mg and index of 3.41. The G4 group (prostate weight 1189mg, prostate index 4) and G5 group (prostate weight 1133 mg, prostate index 4.13) showed similar results to the reference control G3 group (prostate weight 1138mg, prostate index 4.01).
The findings suggest that UPF may exert its effects through mechanisms such as reducing DHT levels, decreasing hyperplasia, and enhancing pro-apoptotic activity. Overall, these results indicate that fucoidan extracted from Undaria pinnatifida may provide benefit in supporting healthy prostate function, researchers concluded.
“The results of this latest study suggest fucoidan may also have a future role to play in men’s health. Excitingly, this would represent a new market category for fucoidan. Marinova is continuing its investigation into its potential in supporting prostate health and looks forward to sharing the details of further research, including clinical trials, in due course,” said Dr Dwan.
The growing international interest in seaweed compounds was highlighted in Global Seaweed New and Emerging Markets Report 2023, released by the World Bank. The report noted that seaweeds and their bioactive compounds are predicted to fuel a seaweed nutraceutical market of USD $3.9 billion by 2030.
Fucoidan is described in the report as already being established in the nutraceutical market and highlighted as a high value market segment, with the global B2B fucoidan market size predicted to grow by more than 26% from 2021 to 2028.
