Researchers from Kyung Hee University, Korea Food Research Institute, and Academy Sciences of Uzbekistan found that a compound extracted from brown algae (Hizikia fusiforme) called fucoidan has therapeutic potential against osteoarthritis. The study, which was published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, looked at the effects of fucoidan on animal models with osteoarthritis and determined its potential mechanisms of action.

• There is an increasing number of elderly and obese patients worldwide. This leads to more patients suffering from a condition called osteoarthritis, which affects the joints of the fingers, knees, or hips.
• Brown algae contain polysaccharides like fucoidan that contribute not just to its structure but its health benefits as well.
• The researchers conducted an in vivo study involving 40 male Sprague Dawley rats, which were divided into five groups. Four groups had monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis while the remaining group was left normal.
• Treatments given to the rats with osteoarthritis are as follows: no treatment, conventional osteoarthritis medication (Lyprinol), 50 mg/kg fucoidan, or 100 mg/kg fucoidan. These were regularly administered for 14 days.
• After the treatment period, the researchers analyzed joint histology and the amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 1-beta (IL-1-beta), and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), present in the serum.
• Untreated rats with osteoarthritis exhibited severe bone loss, cartilage degeneration, and high levels of pro-inflammatory chemicals. Meanwhile, those that were treated with fucoidan has no problems with their cartilage and bones. Moreover, fucoidan-treated rats also had lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Overall, these results prove that fucoidan from brown algae has therapeutic potential against osteoarthritis.

For more articles about natural remedies for osteoarthritis, visit NaturalCures.news.

Journal Reference:

Lee DG, Park SY, Chung WS, Park JH, Hwang E, Mavlonov GT, Kim IH, Kim KY, Yi TH. FUCOIDAN PREVENTS THE PROGRESSION OF OSTEOARTHRITIS IN RATS. Journal of Medicinal Food. 10 September 2015;18(9). DOI:10.1089/jmf.2014.3334