Advances in gut health
A 2026 narrative review has highlighted future opportunities for marine bioactives. The paper systematically examines the source and functional attributes of a range of marine compounds, including fucoidans and other polysaccharides. It highlights their potential applications in targeted delivery systems to support the regulation of gut microbiota.
The authors note particular opportunity for precision intestinal nutrient delivery. They describe the ability of a number of marine bioactives to navigate various physiological barriers in the gastrointestinal tract, facilitating the targeted and sustained release of nutritional components. Recent studies indicate these substances may relieve dysbiosis by modulating the gut microbiota and supporting intestinal barrier integrity.
Marinova can confirm that its high purity Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan has been scientifically validated as a prebiotic. It has been shown to be resistant to host digestion, minimally absorbed in the digestive tract, fermented by gut bacteria, selective in microbiome modulation, and positive in its physiological effects on the host (Irhimeh, 2005; Apostolova, 2020; Wimmer, 2025; Zhao, 2026).
‘Marine bioactive substances in precision nutrient delivery to the gut and advances in microbiome regulation: A narrative review’ was published in the journal Foods.