Saturday May 31, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid isolated from edible seaweed such as Undaria pinnatifida and Hijikia fusiformis.  Animal studies show that fucoxanthin reduced white adipose tissue weight by promoting fat burning within fat cells in white adipose tissue, according to a study led by researchers at Hokkaido University.  When used in a dose of 2.4 mg of fucoxanthin plus 300 mg of pomegranate seed oil per day, the combo resulted in weight loss of 5 kg over 16 weeks in premenopausal obese women who also had liver disease, according o a study led by M. Abidov and published in 2009 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.In addition to promoting weight loss, fucoxanthin may also have an anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antinociceptive and anti-cancer effects.  For instance, fucoxanthin can promote apoptosis in colon cancer cells.  Fucoxanthin pills may be used to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.   (David Liu, PHD)