face multiple forms of prejudice and discrimination due to their over-weight, thus
obesity has become a medical as well as a social problem. Many studies showed
that fish oil is capable to reduce body weight (Mauro et al. 2012). A study on 324
men and women aged between 20 and 40 years from different countries (Spain,
Iceland, and Ireland) is conducted. They are given sunflower oil and fish oil as their
diet. Various measurements are noted down which include: total cholesterol,
high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and
anthropometric measurements. It is found that the weight loss diet with fish oil has
high triacylglycerol, low total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein. Other
studies are also done by comparing the body mass index between fish consuming
people and meat consuming people. The study is conducted on men and women
aged 20–97 years. A study report shows that people consuming fish has a lower
body mass index in comparison to people consuming meat (Maeda et al. 2009).
Eicosapentenoic (EPA) acid and docosahexenoic (DHA) acid also play a major
role to prevent obesity. They mainly inhibit lipid synthesis enzymes like fatty acid
synthase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1. EPA and DHA prevent the entry of fatty
acid to adipocytes for lipogenesis (Aminin et al. 2010). Polyunsaturated fatty acids
are also very effective against obesity as they suppress the factors which are
involved in adipocyte differentiation and fat deposition. Animal studies show that if
EPA and DHA intake increases then, it can protect the body from obesity, and can
also reduce fat when they are already obese. A study on mice is performed in which
they are received sunflower and fish oil diet. In this study, plasma lipid level,
hepatic triglycerides, cholesterol, hepatic mRNA of expression of lipogenic and
lipidolytic genes are measured. The results which is found suggest that a group of
mice who are fed with fish oil has lower body weight in comparison with those who
are fed with sun flower oil (Imhoff et al. 2011).
Marine algae also exert anti-obesity activity e.g. U. pinnatifida, Hijikia fusiformis, and Sargassum fulvellum, which are part of the Asian diet but are also
consumed in many other places (Venegas-Calerón et al. 2010). Fucoxanthin has a
unique structure involving an allene bond and a-monoepoxide which is associated
with anti-obesity activity as well as anti-diabetic activity. Also a nutrigenomic
report suggest that fucoxanthin induces uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression in
mitochondria of white adipose tissue resulting in oxidation of fatty acids and heat
generation in white adipose tissue. Uncoupling protein 1 is known as co-factor of
anti-obesity enzyme because its expression can result in the total organism’s energy
expenditure and its dysfunction can cause obesity. Fucoxanthin induces a clear
UCP1 signal and its mRNA is detected using Western and Northern blot analyses of
abdominal WAT). Further experiments with obese rats and mice show that the
fucoxanthin-fed groups always has improved insulin resistance and decreased blood
glucose In another study, purified Fx and macroalgae lipids containing fucoxanthin
are compared, in which the latter induces a higher expression of UCP1 when
Fucoxanthin is present with the other components, especially lipids. Furthermore, a
synergistic action of omega‐3 fatty acids is noticed on the anti‐obesity effect of
fucoxanthin (Tsukui et al. 2007).
17 Biological Activities of Marine Products …
605
obesity has become a medical as well as a social problem. Many studies showed
that fish oil is capable to reduce body weight (Mauro et al. 2012). A study on 324
men and women aged between 20 and 40 years from different countries (Spain,
Iceland, and Ireland) is conducted. They are given sunflower oil and fish oil as their
diet. Various measurements are noted down which include: total cholesterol,
high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and
anthropometric measurements. It is found that the weight loss diet with fish oil has
high triacylglycerol, low total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein. Other
studies are also done by comparing the body mass index between fish consuming
people and meat consuming people. The study is conducted on men and women
aged 20–97 years. A study report shows that people consuming fish has a lower
body mass index in comparison to people consuming meat (Maeda et al. 2009).
Eicosapentenoic (EPA) acid and docosahexenoic (DHA) acid also play a major
role to prevent obesity. They mainly inhibit lipid synthesis enzymes like fatty acid
synthase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1. EPA and DHA prevent the entry of fatty
acid to adipocytes for lipogenesis (Aminin et al. 2010). Polyunsaturated fatty acids
are also very effective against obesity as they suppress the factors which are
involved in adipocyte differentiation and fat deposition. Animal studies show that if
EPA and DHA intake increases then, it can protect the body from obesity, and can
also reduce fat when they are already obese. A study on mice is performed in which
they are received sunflower and fish oil diet. In this study, plasma lipid level,
hepatic triglycerides, cholesterol, hepatic mRNA of expression of lipogenic and
lipidolytic genes are measured. The results which is found suggest that a group of
mice who are fed with fish oil has lower body weight in comparison with those who
are fed with sun flower oil (Imhoff et al. 2011).
Marine algae also exert anti-obesity activity e.g. U. pinnatifida, Hijikia fusiformis, and Sargassum fulvellum, which are part of the Asian diet but are also
consumed in many other places (Venegas-Calerón et al. 2010). Fucoxanthin has a
unique structure involving an allene bond and a-monoepoxide which is associated
with anti-obesity activity as well as anti-diabetic activity. Also a nutrigenomic
report suggest that fucoxanthin induces uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression in
mitochondria of white adipose tissue resulting in oxidation of fatty acids and heat
generation in white adipose tissue. Uncoupling protein 1 is known as co-factor of
anti-obesity enzyme because its expression can result in the total organism’s energy
expenditure and its dysfunction can cause obesity. Fucoxanthin induces a clear
UCP1 signal and its mRNA is detected using Western and Northern blot analyses of
abdominal WAT). Further experiments with obese rats and mice show that the
fucoxanthin-fed groups always has improved insulin resistance and decreased blood
glucose In another study, purified Fx and macroalgae lipids containing fucoxanthin
are compared, in which the latter induces a higher expression of UCP1 when
Fucoxanthin is present with the other components, especially lipids. Furthermore, a
synergistic action of omega‐3 fatty acids is noticed on the anti‐obesity effect of
fucoxanthin (Tsukui et al. 2007).
17 Biological Activities of Marine Products …
605