Seaweed extract, Fucoidan, as a supplement to support the development of muscle strength and function

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Nutritional supplements are routinely ingested throughout a training period to maximise exercise-based adaptations. Edible seaweeds (macroalgae) have the potential to provide a rich and sustainable source of macronutrients and micronutrients to the human diet. The recent surge of interest in seaweed is fueled by attention on the bioactive components of seaweed, which have potential applications in the food and nutraceutical industries, with impetus toward the reducing cholesterol and improving blood sugar levels. One candidate bioactive compound of interest is the polysaccharide, Fucoidan. Fucoidans are found in brown seaweeds and the health benefits of Fucoidans have been demonstrated in both human and animal studies where the multiple effects include anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-tumour, and immune-modulating properties. Our research group in collaboration with industry leading Fucoidan producers (Marinova Pty Ltd) have shown in a pre-clinical study in mice that a novel Fucoidan blend increased muscle mass. While the animal study evidence does exist for Fucoidan imfluencing muscle health, more human evidence (including mechanistic evidence) is needed to evaluate both the nutritional benefit conferred and the efficacy of Fucoidan on muscle health. Therefore, the aim of this pilot clinical trial is to evaluate the effect of oral supplementation of a Fucoidan blend on exercise endurance, muscle strength, anabolic parameters and lean body mass in healthy human subjects. We hypothesize that fucoidan could be a supplement that increases muscle strength with greater adaptations when consumed in addition to resistance training. Here we propose a study designed to establish whether a novel fucoidan blend can potentiate the adaptation of muscle to a resistance training protocol.

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