Life · 4 authors, 3 centres
This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.
This narrative systematic review evaluated the potential therapeutic effects of sulfated polysaccharides derived from seaweed (carrageenan, ulvan, fucoidan) on inflammatory bowel disease. The review found that algal polysaccharides modulate multiple IBD therapeutic targets but noted that the bulk of evidence comes from ex vivo and animal studies, with insufficient human clinical trials.
The authors conducted a narrative systematic review searching PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using keywords related to seaweed polysaccharides and IBD. Studies examining polysaccharide effects on IBD in humans and animals were included. The review synthesized evidence showing that sulfated polysaccharides from red, green, and brown algae can influence IBD therapeutic targets, including inflammatory cytokines, adhesion molecules, intestinal epithelial cells, and intestinal microflora. The authors conclude that algal polysaccharides have significant potential in complementary IBD therapy. However, the review acknowledges that the bulk of investigations have been conducted ex vivo or in animal models, with a lack of clinical trials in humans. Additional limitations include limited data availability, language biases, and publication biases. The authors state that clinical trials are necessary to establish the safety and effectiveness of these compounds.
