Introduction: Osteoporosis is a common skeletal disorder that results in decreased
bone density and increased risk of fractures. Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide found in brown
seaweed, has been suggested as a potential treatment for osteoporosis due to its ability to regulate
bone metabolism and regeneration. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the existing
evidence on the potential of fucoidan in the treatment of osteoporosis.
Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed database from inception until
May 2023. Studies that investigated the effects of fucoidan on osteopetrosis in animal models or
in vitro were included. The keywords were (Fucoidan[Title/Abstract]) AND
((osteogenic[Title/Abstract]) or (Osteoporosis[Title/Abstract]) or (bone[Title/Abstract]) or
(Osteogenesis[Title/Abstract])).
Results: A total 90 studies were included in this review including in vitro, animal, and human
studies. In vitro and animal studies showed that fucoidan had a positive effect on bone health by
increasing osteoblast differentiation and mineralization and decreasing osteoclast differentiation
and activity. Human studies showed mixed results, with some studies reporting a positive effect
of fucoidan on bone density and others reporting no significant effect.
Conclusion: Fucoidan has potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of osteoporosis.
Further studies are required to investigate the safety and efficacy of fucoidan in human subjects
with osteoporosis. Fucoidan may represent a promising alternative or complementary therapy for
osteoporosis, but more research is needed to establish its role in clinical practice.