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Supplements/Compound

Fucoxanthin

aka Brown seaweed extract

Brown seaweed carotenoid studied for visceral fat reduction.

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Overview

Brown seaweed carotenoid studied for visceral fat reduction.

Natural sources
  • Undaria pinnatifida
  • Hijiki
Common forms
  • Brown seaweed extract

Mechanism of action

Upregulates UCP1 in white adipose tissue, increasing thermogenesis.

Pathways
  • · UCP1 ↑

Effects on the body

Increases
Thermogenesis
Decreases
Visceral fat

Organ system effects

Evidence-based benefits

Modest visceral fat reduction in obese women

Limited evidence

Potential side effects

Common
  • · Fucoxanthin is generally well-tolerated at evidence-based doses
  • · Mild GI discomfort (nausea, loose stools, or bloating) possible at higher intakes
  • · Headache or transient fatigue reported by a small fraction of users
Rare
  • · Allergic or hypersensitivity reaction (rash, itching, swelling)
  • · Sleep disturbance if taken late in the day
Serious
  • · Discontinue and seek medical advice if symptoms are severe, persistent, or include difficulty breathing

Drug interactions

Prescription medications (general)
Always disclose Fucoxanthin use to your prescriber — additive, antagonistic, or pharmacokinetic interactions are possible.
minor

Supplement interactions

Pairs well with
  • A high-quality multivitamin
    Covers micronutrient cofactors that support most supplement pathways.
  • Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)
    Foundational anti-inflammatory support that complements most regimens.
Avoid combining with

No specific avoidances listed.

Dosing & bioavailability

Typical dose
2.4–8 mg/d
Best form
Most evidence is based on the brown seaweed extract form.
Timing
Consistent daily timing recommended; split larger doses if GI tolerance is a concern.
With food?
With a meal containing fat for fat-soluble compounds; otherwise either.

Where to buy

Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Amazon code supplementsch-20 is auto-applied at checkout. We don't endorse specific brands; verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

Scientific evidence8Show studies
RCTDiabetes Obes Metab · 2010

Xanthigen (fucoxanthin + pomegranate) for weight loss

Abidov M, et al.

16-week RCT in obese women.

Key findings

Significant weight and body-fat reduction.

Open study
Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

PubMed: Fucoxanthin — Modest visceral fat reduction in obese women

Live PubMed search

Live results for "Fucoxanthin Modest visceral fat reduction in obese women" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

Key findings

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Fucoxanthin and "Modest visceral fat reduction in obese women". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

Open study
Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

PubMed: Fucoxanthin — randomized controlled trial

Live PubMed search

Live results for "Fucoxanthin randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

Key findings

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Fucoxanthin and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

Open study
Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

PubMed: Fucoxanthin — meta-analysis

Live PubMed search

Live results for "Fucoxanthin meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

Key findings

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Fucoxanthin and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

Open study
Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

PubMed: Fucoxanthin — pharmacokinetics

Live PubMed search

Live results for "Fucoxanthin pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

Key findings

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Fucoxanthin and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

Open study
Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

PubMed: Fucoxanthin — safety adverse events

Live PubMed search

Live results for "Fucoxanthin safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

Key findings

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Fucoxanthin and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

Open study
Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

PubMed: Fucoxanthin — dose response

Live PubMed search

Live results for "Fucoxanthin dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

Key findings

Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Fucoxanthin and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

Open study
Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

Google Scholar: Fucoxanthin — clinical evidence

Live Scholar search

Cross-database citation index for Fucoxanthin as it relates to "clinical evidence".

Key findings

Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

Open study
Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.

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