ABSTRACT
Seaweeds contain many nutrients and bioactive compounds and are beneficial for many human diseases. Certain seaweeds such as the brown Sargassum polycystum improved insulin sensitivity, blood sugar levels and blood lipid levels in experimental Type 2 diabetes mammals. Both the Sargassum polycystum alcoholic and water extracts, effectively reduced blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), serum total cholesterol, triglyceride levels and plasma atherogenic index. In the experimental mammals, unlike Metformin, the brown seaweed extract did not change plasma insulin levels, but increased the responses to insulin. The brown seaweed ethanolic and aqueous extracts also prevented pathological lesions of the livers and kidneys in experimental diabetic mammals. Low doses of brown seaweed (equivalent 30mg/kg for humans) experimentally protected or restored the pancreas islets, reduced the liver and kidney damages in the diabetic rodents and may produce beneficial homeostatic effects. The brown seaweed extract consumption produced liver and kidney toxicity at high doses. The brown seaweed extract reduced dyslipidemia in Type 2 diabetic mammals, by being an insulin sensitizer, and at low doses may be organ protective against Type 2 diabetes complications, besides helping reduce atherogenic risk.
