Research
Research suggests that xanthigen® has been clinically tested to support healthy weight management and fat metabolism. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 151 women following an 1800 calorie per day diet, participants were randomly assigned to receive Xanthigen®, fucoxanthin, pomegranate seed oil or olive oil (placebo) for 16 weeks. Results demonstrated that those in the Xanthigen® group had an average weight loss of 14.5 pounds compared to 3 pounds in the placebo group. Xanthigen® also supported healthy hepatic fat metabolism, healthy triglyceride levels and healthy C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.7,8,9
Research also shows that fucoxanthin and punicic acid in combination help better suppress adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation via multiple pathways, than either alone. Xanthigen®, a combination of both active ingredients, helps suppress accumulation of lipid droplets in adipocytes compared to its individual components.10
The Brown Seaweed (Fucoxanthin) in this product is rich in fucoxanthin, a type of carotenoid (a class of natural pigments found in brown seaweed) antioxidant that protects cells and tissues from damaging effects of free radicals. Fucoxanthin has demonstrated slimming properties by reducing fat storage11,12,13 It is also a source of omega-3 fatty acids which have recognized triglyceride lowering effects. 14 Fucoxanthin has shown weight loss properties by increasing energy expenditure and promoting fat burning within fat cells, by upregulating mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1).1 UCP1 expression is known as a significant component of whole body energy expenditure and its dysfunction contributes to the development of obesity. 15,16Fucoxanthin is also known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-angiogenic and anti-malarial activities, and its protective effects on the liver, blood vessels of the brain, bones, skin, and eyes.17
Pomegranate Seed (Punicic Acid) contains the active nutrient ingredient punicic acid, which is known to have several health benefits, including high antioxidant capacity, anti-inflamatory, antitumor, immunomodulatory, anti-atherosclerotic and serum lipid-lowering activities.15,17,18 Pucinic Acid is derived from pomegranate seed and supports epidermal tissue regeneration, boosts the immune system and displays chemopreventative activity against hormone related (prostate and breast) and colon cancers.15 Punicic Acid has also been shown to suppress the production and secretion of triglycerides and apolipoproteins.19 Research shows that Punicic Acid can help reduce triglycerides in hyperlipidemic adults and create a favorable HDL: TG ratio20, decrease fat accumulation synergistically in adipocytes cultures21 and modulate genes facilitating insulin and glucose metabolism in muscle cultures and inhibited pro-inflammatory genes.22
Resources
1 Elobeid MA, Padilla MA, Brock DW, Ruden DM, Allison DB. Endocrine disruptors and obesity: an examination of selected persistent organic pollutants in the NHANES 1999-2002 data. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2010 July 7(7):2988-3005.
2 Hue O, Marcotte J, Berrigan F, Simoneau M, Doré J, Marceau P, Marceau S, Tremblay A, Teasdale N. Increased plasma levels of toxic pollutants accompanying weight loss induced by hypocaloric diet or by bariatric surgery. Obes Surg. 2006 September 16(9):1145-54.
3 Charlier C, Desaive C, Plomteux G. Human exposure to endocrine disrupters: consequences of gastroplasty on plasma concentration of toxic pollutants. nt J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2002 November ;26(11):1465-8.
Clinical Toxicology Laboratory, University Hospital, Liege, Belgium.
4 Lim JS, Son HK, Park SK, Jacobs DR Jr, Lee DH. Int J Obes (Lond). Inverse associations between long-term weight change and serum concentrations of persistent organic pollutants.2011;35(5):744-7.
5 Fang YZ, Yang S, Wu G. Free radicals, antioxidants, and nutrition. Nutrition. 2002 Oct;18(10):872-9.
6 Uttara B, Singh AV, Zamboni P, Mahajan R. Oxidative Stress and Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Review of Upstream and Downstream Antioxidant Therapeutic Options. Current Neuropharmacology. 2009;7(1):65-74.
7 Abidov, M., Siefulla, R., & Ramazanov, Z. (2008). The effect of Xanthigen™, a phytomedicine containing fucoxanthin and pomegranate seed oil, on body weight and liver fat, serum triglycerides, C-reactive protein, and plasma aminotransferases in obese non-diabetic female volunteers: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. Submitted for publication. Int J Obesity.
8 Abidov, M., & Roshen, S. (2008). Effect of Fucoxanthin and Xanthigen™, a phytomedicine containing fucoxanthin and pomegranate seed oil, on energy expenditure rate in obese non-diabetic female volunteers with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled trial. Submitted for publication. Int J Obesity.
9 Abidov, M., Ramazanov, Z., Seifulla, R., & Grachev, S. (2010). The effects of Xanthigen™ in the weight management of obese premenopausal women with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and normal liver fat. Diabetes, obesity and metabolism, 12(1), 72-81.
10 Ching-Shu Lai et al. Xanthigen Suppresses Preadipocyte Differentiation and Adipogenesis through Down-regulation of PPARγ and C/EBPs and Modulation of SIRT-1, AMPK, and FoxO Pathways. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2012;60(4):1094–1101.
11> Brown LJ, et al (2002). Normal thyroid thermogenesis but reduced viability and adiposity in mice lacking the mitochondrial glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase. J Biol Chem 277: 32892–32898.
12 Nicholls DG, Locke RM (1984). Thermogenic mechanisms in brown fat. Physiol Rev 64: 1–64.
13 Maeda H, Hosokawa M, Sashima T, Takahashi N, Kawada T, Miyashita K (2006). Fucoxanthin and its metabolite, fucoxanthinol, suppress adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. Int J Mol Med 18(1): 147–152.
14 Tsuku T, et al (2007). Fucoxanthin and fucoxanthinol enhance the amount of docosahexanoic acid in the liver of KKAy obese/diabetic mice. J Agric Food Chem Jun 27; 55(13):5025-9. 15 Maeda H et al (2005). Fucoxanthin from edible seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida, shows antiobesity effect through UCP1 expression in white adipose tissues. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 332(2): 392–397.
16 B.B. Lowell, V. S-Susullc, A. Hamann, J.A. Lawitts, J. HimmaHagen, B.B. Boyer, L.P. Kozak, J.S. Flier, Development of obesity in transgenic mice after genetic ablation of brown adipose tissue, Nature 366 (1993) 740–742.
17 Melo I., Carvalho E., Mancini-Filho J., Pomegranate Seed Oil (Punica Granatum L.): A Source of Punicic Acid (Conjugated alpha-Linolenic Acid). J Hum Nutr Food Sci 2014;2(1):1024.
18 Peng J., Yuan J-P., et al. Fucoanthin, a Marine Carotenoid Present in Brown Seaweeeds and Diatoms: Metabolism and Bioactivities Relevant to Human Health. Mar.Drugs. 2011;9:1806-1828.
19 Arao K, et al (2004). The 9cis, 11trans, 13cis isomer of conjugated linolenic acid reduces apolipoprotein B100 secretion and triacylglycerol synthesis in HepG2 cells. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 68: 395–397.
20 Parvin Mirmiran, Mohammad Reza Fazeli, Golaleh Asghari, Abbas Shafiee and Fereidoun Azizi (2010). Effect of pomegranate seed oil on hyperlipidaemic subjects: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. British Journal of Nutrition, 104, pp 402-406.
21 Lai CS, Tsai ML, Badmaev V, Jimenez M, Ho CT, Pan MH. Xanthigen suppresses preadipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis through down-regulation of PPARγ and C/EBPs and modulation of SIRT-1, AMPK, and FoxO pathways. J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Feb 1;60(4):1094-101.
22 Gammone MA, D'Orazio N. Anti-Obesity Activity of the Marine Carotenoid Fucoxanthin. Mar. Drugs 2015, 13(4), 2196-2214.