A look at eye health
Researchers are increasingly exploring the potential of fucoidans to assist in the future treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a chronic eye disease resulting in progressive loss of central vision. It is caused by age-related damage to the macula, the centre of the retina. The antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of fucoidan identify them as compounds of interest for this condition.
Lipid-induced changes in the retinal pigment epithelium are known to contribute to the development of AMD. A recent study explored the effectiveness of a high purity fucoidan extract in providing protection against lipid-induced stress. The in vitro study involved treating retinal pigment epithelium cell lines with an inducer of lipid peroxidation and with fucoidan.
The investigation showed that fucoidan increased cell viability, reduced elevated levels of the inflammatory chemokine interleukin 8, and reduced induced vascular epithelial growth factor. Beneficial effects of the fucoidan were demonstrated in different retinal pigment epithelium models.
The promising results led the researchers to recommend further studies investigating the effects of fucoidan on lipid metabolism and related mechanisms for AMD.
The high purity Fucus vesiculosus fucoidan extract utilised in the study was produced by Marinova.
The full paper, ‘Fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus Protects Retinal Pigment Epithelium from Lipid-Induced Damage Related to AMD’, was published in the journal Marine Drugs.