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Anti-obesity Effect of Gelidium amansii

    Obesity is a growing global issue, with around 38% of adults being overweight and an estimated 20% projected to be obese by 2030. Being overweight poses a significant risk for chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular issues, musculoskeletal problems, depression, and cancer. Efforts are underway to reduce obesity rates and associated health problems, emphasizing lifestyle changes such as a balanced diet and regular exercise.

 

    Seaweeds, like Gelidium amansii, are packed with beneficial compounds like polyphenols, carotenoids, phycocyanins, phycobilins, and polysaccharides. Gelidium amansii, a red algae consumed in East Asian countries, has been recognized for its nutraceutical activities, including anti-oxidative, immunomodulatory, anti-tumor, and cytotoxic effects. Recent studies on animals and humans have also shown its anti-adipogenesis and anti-obesity benefits.

 

    In a study with mice, some were given a regular diet, while others were given a high-fat diet to make them obese. The obese mice were then either kept on the high-fat diet or given a high-fat diet along with 50 or 200 mg/kg bodyweight/day of Gelidium amansii extract for 7 weeks. The results revealed that the Gelidium amansii extract prevented the weight gain caused by the high-fat diet. The mice on the high-fat diet gained around 55 g in body weight over the 7 weeks, but with the extract treatments, the increase was reduced to about 45 g and 40 g, closer to the weight gain seen in mice on a regular diet (around 35 g). Considering the starting weight of the mice was about 25 g, the prevention of weight gain by Gelidium amansii extract was significant. The study also suggested that the mechanism behind this effect could be the modulation of the AMPK-PRDM16-UCP-1 pathway, indicating the potential of the extract to convert white adipose tissue to brown adipose tissue, leading to more thermogenesis effects and explaining its benefits in preventing weight gain (1).

 

    In a study, Gelidium amansii extract's impact on obesity in diet-induced obese mice was explored. The mice were fed a high-fat diet for 5 weeks to induce obesity, then given a high-fat diet with Gelidium amansii extract at different levels (0.5%, 1%, and 2%) for 8 weeks. The groups receiving the extract had significantly lower weight gains compared to the high-fat diet group. Body weight gains for the high-fat diet, high-fat diet with 0.5% extract, 1% extract, and 2% extract groups were 12.48 g, 8.30 g, 3.93 g, and 3.18 g, respectively. The extract groups also showed lower masses of epididymal and mesenteric adipose tissues. Additionally, levels of plasma triglycerides, cholesterol, and leptin were reduced, while adiponectin levels increased in the extract groups. These changes suggest a potential appetite suppression effect and improved insulin sensitivity. The expression of adipogenic proteins decreased, while proteins associated with lipolysis increased in the extract groups, indicating that Gelidium amansii extract stimulated lipid metabolism and reduced weight gain in obese mice fed a high-fat diet (2).

 

    In another study using diet-induced obese mice, the protective effects of Gelidium amansii extract against obesity were examined. The obese mice were given either a high-fat diet or a high-fat diet with different levels of Gelidium amansii extract (1% and 3%) for 12 weeks. After this period, mice on the high-fat diet with Gelidium amansii extracts showed a significant reduction in body weight. The body weight gain over the 12 weeks was approximately 190% for the high-fat diet control group, 170% for the high-fat diet with 1% Gelidium amansii extract, and 130% for the high-fat diet with 3% Gelidium amansii extract, compared to the starting point. This effect may be attributed to decreased fat cell formation, as indicated by the suppression of adipogenic gene expression in adipocytes by Gelidium amansii extracts. Additionally, blood glucose and serum insulin levels decreased with Gelidium amansii extracts treatment in mice on a high-fat diet, suggesting an improvement in glucose metabolism. Gelidium amansii extracts supplementation also significantly lowered total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. These findings indicate that Gelidium amansii could prevent the development of diet-induced obesity, suggesting that Gelidium amansii extracts supplementation could be a therapeutic option for metabolic disorders like obesity (3).

 

    In an animal study, the anti-obesity effects of Gelidium amansii extract were examined in C57BL/6J-ob/ob mice. The mice were given Gelidium amansii extract at 0.5% for 4 weeks. The results showed significant reductions in body weight gain (-37%), epididymal adipose tissue weight gain (-15%), plasma triglycerides (-18%), and hepatic lipid accumulation (-29%) in mice fed with Gelidium amansii extract compared to the control mice. Gelidium amansii extract-fed mice also had significantly higher levels of plasma adiponectin. The study also analyzed enzymes and proteins related to lipid metabolism, revealing decreased fat synthesis-promoting enzymes and increased fat breakdown-promoting enzymes in Gelidium amansii extract-fed mice compared to the control mice. These findings indicate that Gelidium amansii extract regulates lipid profiles, raises high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and influences the expression of lipid metabolic factors, resulting in reduced weight gain in ob/ob mice (4).

 

    A study involving 78 participants (aged 19 to 50, with a BMI between 23 and 30 kg/m2) explored whether Gelidium amansii extract could impact body weight and fat mass in overweight or obese individuals. The participants were randomly assigned to receive either Gelidium amansii extract (1000 mg/day) or a placebo for 12 weeks. After adjusting for baseline, calorie intake, and physical activity, significant differences were observed in body weight and fat mass changes between the two groups. Gelidium amansii extract led to a significant decrease in body weight and fat mass after 12 weeks, while the placebo group experienced increases. The changes from baseline to 12 weeks in body weight and fat mass were -1.21 ± 1.66 kg and -0.48 ± 1.06 kg in the Gelidium amansii extract group, compared to 0.46 ± 1.19 kg and 1.08 ± 0.75 kg in the placebo group (p<0.0001). Though not significant, there was a tendency for triglyceride levels to decrease after Gelidium amansii extract intake, and no significant differences were observed in other laboratory biomarkers. In summary, the results suggest that Gelidium amansii extract significantly reduces body weight, especially fat mass, in overweight or obese individuals (5).

 

    As observed in animal studies, Gelidium amansii extract hindered the formation of fat cells and the storage of fat. Mice on a high-fat diet alone consistently gained weight, but those on the same diet with Gelidium amansii extract experienced reduced weight gain, and this effect became more pronounced with higher doses of the extract. Additionally, mice given Gelidium amansii extract had lower accumulation of subcutaneous and abdominal fat compared to those not given the extract (1-4). The human study confirmed the anti-obesity effect, demonstrating a loss of -1.21 kg in body weight and -0.48 kg in fat mass over 12 weeks of Gelidium amansii supplementation (5). Collectively, these studies suggest that Gelidium amansii could be advantageous for weight management.

 

References:

 

  1. Choi J, Kim KJ, Koh EJ, Lee BY. Gelidium elegans Regulates the AMPK-PRDM16-UCP-1 Pathway and Has a Synergistic Effect with Orlistat on Obesity-Associated Features in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet. Nutrients. 2017 Mar 30;9(4):342. doi: 10.3390/nu9040342. PMID: 28358328; PMCID: PMC5409681.

  2. Kang JH, Lee HA, Kim HJ, Han JS. Gelidium amansii extract ameliorates obesity by down-regulating adipogenic transcription factors in diet-induced obese mice. Nutr Res Pract. 2017 Feb;11(1):17-24. doi: 10.4162/nrp.2017.11.1.17. Epub 2016 Dec 19. PMID: 28194261; PMCID: PMC5300942.

  3. Kang MC, Kang N, Kim SY, Lima IS, Ko SC, Kim YT, Kim YB, Jeung HD, Choi KS, Jeon YJ. Popular edible seaweed, Gelidium amansii prevents against diet-induced obesity. Food Chem Toxicol. 2016 Apr;90:181-7. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2016.02.014. Epub 2016 Feb 18. PMID: 26911551.

  4. Park MH, Kang JH, Kim HJ, Han JS. Gelidium amansii ethanol extract suppresses fat accumulation by down-regulating adipogenic transcription factors in ob/ob mice model. Food Sci Biotechnol. 2017 Feb 28;26(1):207-212. doi: 10.1007/s10068-017-0028-z. PMID: 30263530; PMCID: PMC6049497.

  5. Kim CO, Kim YN, Lee DC. Effects of Gelidium elegans on Weight and Fat Mass Reduction and Obesity Biomarkers in Overweight or Obese Adults: A Randomized Double-Blinded Study. Nutrients. 2019 Jul 3;11(7):1513. doi: 10.3390/nu11071513. PMID: 31277301; PMCID: PMC6683047.

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