of Immunopathology of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences14. This important information requires clarification because some marketing information produced by retail dietary supplement companies may be misleading, in terms of origin and ownership of scientific discovery.
It would appear that Dr. Ramazanov has played a principal role in the commercialization of LipoxanThin™ through Garden of Life, a Florida-based dietary supplement purveyor. Contrary to popular belief, the real pioneers of the use of fucoxanthin in weight control are Japanese scientists11-13. These matters described in marketing materials are somewhat misleading or confusing. Combining certain types of seaweed or fucoxanthin extracts with other metabolic enhancers has formed the basis of “fucose or fucoxanthin complexes” that are used as dietary supplements for weight control15.
Weight Control
While one can accept the beneficial effects of seaweed ingredients on body metabolism in the overweight individual, the thermogenic effects of fucoxanthin11-14 are best complemented by other natural substances that can provide valuable metabolic enhancement15. Thermogenesis induced by fucoxanthin can be complemented by metabolic promoters such as chromium, green tea polyphenols, chlorogenic acid and hydroxycitrate (Garcinia cambogia)16,17. The limitation of the use of single dietary supplements for weight control has become apparent increasingly in recent times, especially given the complex pathophysiology of obesity17,18.
Chromium has several advantages for weight control supplements, largely because of its insulin sensitizing effects and ability to promote healthy blood cholesterol16-18. Green tea polyphenols exert anti-inflammatory actions and alter glucose metabolism in a favorable manner16-19. In a similar manner, chlorogenic acid and other “coffee polyphenols” may favorably alter lipid and sugar metabolism and afford protection against the development of type II diabetes mellitus16-18. Hydroxycitric acid (Garcinia cambogia) may inhibit fat storage by promoting sugar storage as glycogen; and it may suppress appetite, thereby decreasing body weight17. This supplement has enjoyed great individual popularity for many years, but its stand alone use may be limited in benefits.
The use of other metabolic enhancers combined with fucoxanthin has implications for the management of metabolic syndrome X11-13. This disorder affects up to 70 million Americans with its variable constellation of overweight status, abnormal blood cholesterol and/or triglycerides and hypertension, linked by resistance to the hormone insulin16,18,20. The amplification of the actions of fucoxanthin-containing seaweeds is a synergistic approach to dietary supplement formulation with more potent and versatile effects on weight control21. This modern nutraceutical technology introduces the concept of a clinical fucose or fucoxanthin complex formula.
There is no “perfect” or ideal weight and certainly there is no “perfect diet.” Weight control is a function of behavior modification, calorie controlled diet, exercise and adjunctive care, along with the judicious use of dietary supplements (or drugs). Diet alone cannot be relied upon for sustained weight control and there is not a dietary approach described in the history of medicine that ensures long term weight control16,17. The “low carb” dietary approach (popularized by Atkins and plagiarized by others) is effective in the short term and I recommend it for its provision of early weight loss. This initial weight loss serves as a positive stimulus for compliance with complex regimens that are required for sustained weight balance17-20.
It is clear that the restriction of simple sugars in the diet is quite safe and it makes eminent sense for use in mature individuals who often have insulin resistance as part of the complex of syndrome X18,20. However, it must be recognized that carbohydrate restriction alone has not been shown to overcome insulin resistance in a consistent manner17,18,21. This is one principal reason why an Atkins-like diet is doomed to failure in the intermediate to long term control of body weight. It is about time that dietary fads are avoided in the professional management of obesity17. Managing obesity related disease and the litany of disorders associated with metabolic syndrome X (Syndrome X, Y and Z…) are mandatory interventions16, 18. I fail to understand why both conventional and alternative medicine have failed to recognize the global importance of managing Syndrome X! While 70 million people in the US have syndrome X, this diagnosis is missing from many patient charts17,20.