Published in Research and Reports in Urology, the study involved 88 participants with BPH (aged 45-80) who were randomized to receive either the organic fucoidan—a polysaccharide from brown seaweed—or a placebo for 90 days.
Results indicated the intervetion was associated with statistically and clinically significant International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) improvement, with improvements in bladder voiding, urination frequency, and enhanced quality of life related to urinary symptoms, compared to placebo.
The trial was conducted by Dr Barbara Wimmer, research director at Marinova, the Australian biotech firm which supplied the intervention, alongside researchers from Australia and India.
“This is the first clinical study to be published investigating the potential of high purity fucoidan to support prostate health and it represents exciting potential for fucoidan in the men’s health category,” Dr Wimmer told NI.
She added that this was a “particularly rigorous clinical study,” because it determined whether changes in prostate symptoms were clinically significant.
“Huge market potential”
BPH affects more than half of men aged over 50 and around 80% of men in their 70s.
The condition occurs when the prostate enlarges and places pressure on the urethra, causing problematic symptoms such as difficulty urinating, a weak stream, incomplete bladder emptying, and frequent urination, and can lead to more serious bladder, urinary tract and kidney problems.
Current BPH management typically includes alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.
“At present, there are a very limited number of natural compounds available to support prostate health effectively,” said Dr. Wimmer. “Natural support for prostate health is not only of significant interest to researchers, but also represents huge market potential for innovative supplement brands.”
Fucoidan is a complex polysaccharide predominantly found in brown seaweed, containing diverse bioactivities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune-boosting, and anti-tumor properties.
The botanical has been found to block selectins and scavenger receptors to reduce inflammation by preventing neutrophil infiltration and is widely utilized in supplements targeting immune support, gut health and healthy ageing.
In a testosterone-induced rat BPH model, fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida (UPF) reduced prostate weight, prostate index, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, PSA, interleukin-1 beta (IL-β), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) after 28 days. However, no studies into this benefit in men were conducted prior to the current study.
Methodology
In the recent double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, participants were randomized so that half took 1000 mg per day of high purity fucoidan for 90 days, while the other half took a placebo.
Clinical assessments were conducted at baseline, and days 30, 60 and 90. These included blood sample collection for analysis of fasting blood glucose, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) analysis. Participants also completed the international prostate symptom score (I-PSS), and a QOL assessment.
Resulting data indicated that, by day 60, the UPF group showed significant improvement in total IPSS score compared to placebo (1.98 reduction compared with 0.64), with further improvements by day 90 (3.40 score reduction compared with 0.93).
BPH symptoms measured by IPSS improved continuously over the 90-day study period and the UPF group demonstrated a threefold greater reduction in IPSS (16.38% vs 5.48%) by day 60.
By day 90, the UPF group had a 28.12% decrease, compared to 7.97% in the placebo group.
Voiding and storage, sub-scores improved significantly by day 90 in the UPF group. Quality of life related to urinary symptoms improved continuously by day 60 and 90.
No significant changes were observed for PSA, urinary flow rate, or PVR versus placebo.
The trial was not conducted to investigate the mechanism of action but a previous prostate investigation conducted by Marinova in an animal model, combined with the significant volume of existing published research, suggests that the mode of action is likely to be multifactorial.
“It is well documented that high purity Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan modulates inflammation, and emerging evidence also suggests a potential role for fucoidan in supporting the gut-prostate axis – particularly through supporting the production of the beneficial short-chain fatty acid butyrate,” said Dr. Wimmer. “Other existing in vivo research suggests beneficial effects on prostate cell proliferation and androgen signalling.”
The authors suggested future research should explore the biological pathways behind the improvements.
Source: Research and Reports in Urology, https://doi.org/10.2147/RRU.S597883, “Fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida Improves Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Symptoms in Men: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study”, Authors: Wimmer. B.C., et al,
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