Fucoidan may protect lungs from damage due to viral infection, says review of research

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A recent review published in Marine Drugs¹ summarizes the current research on marine polysaccharide fucoidan and its potential to limit lung damage from viral respiratory infections. Fucoidan is a highly bioactive compound found in brown seaweeds. The review is relevant because respiratory viral infections, such as that of COVID-19, can cause both acute and chronic damage to the lungs.

According to the review, current research shows that fucoidan has the potential to support innate immunity and inflammation in both clinical and animal models, and recent animal models have shown that fucoidan may attenuate pulmonary damage from acute viral infection. This represents a good foundation for further clinical research into the efficacy of fucoidan to protect lungs from damage associated with viral infection.

“The preservation of lung function and the limiting of lung damage may benefit individual patients and global health systems currently under immense strain,” said Marinova’s chief scientist and the lead author of the paper, Helen Fitton, PhD, in a press release. “Marinova is continuing to explore this potential with additional studies investigating immune function.”