Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide primarily derived from brown seaweed, has attracted interest for its potential to support patients undergoing chemotherapy, particularly in mitigating some of the treatment's adverse effects. While there is evidence from in vitro and animal studies suggesting fucoidan may have immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective properties, the clinical evidence in humans remains limited and preliminary.

A handful of small clinical trials, mainly conducted in East Asia, have examined fucoidan as an adjunct to chemotherapy in cancer patients. For example, a few studies in patients with advanced cancer reported that oral fucoidan supplementation was associated with improved quality of life and reductions in chemotherapy-induced fatigue and gastrointestinal side effects. Some studies also suggested that fucoidan might enhance immune function or help maintain white blood cell counts during chemotherapy. However, these studies often suffer from methodological limitations, such as small sample sizes, lack of blinding, and short follow-up periods.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have concluded that while fucoidan appears safe and may provide some supportive benefits, the overall quality of evidence is low, and larger, well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed. Therefore, the use of fucoidan to reduce chemotherapy side effects is supported by some scientific evidence, but it is not robust or conclusive at this stage.

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