Fucoxanthin is a xanthophyll carotenoid with a unique allenic bond and 5,6-monoepoxide structure, primarily found in brown algae (Undaria pinnatifida, Laminaria japonica) and diatoms. It is extracted using organic solvents or supercritical CO2 from seaweed biomass and purified through chromatographic methods. Research demonstrates that fucoxanthin promotes fat oxidation by upregulating UCP1 expression in white adipose tissue and modulates lipid metabolism.
It also shows significant antioxidant activity through radical scavenging and singlet oxygen quenching. Fucoxanthin is approved as a dietary supplement ingredient in several markets and is gaining status as a novel food ingredient in the EU. Typical supplemental doses range from 1–3 mg/day in human studies.