The Effect of Sargassum fusiforme and Fucus vesiculosus on Continuous Glucose Levels in Overweight Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Feasibility Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Brown seaweed is promising for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Its bioactive constituents can positively affect plasma glucose homeostasis in healthy humans. We investigated the effect of the brown seaweeds Sargassum (S.) fusiforme and Fucus (F.) vesiculosus in their natural form on glucose regulation in patients with T2DM. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial. Thirty-six participants with T2DM received, on a daily basis, either 5 g of dried S. fusiforme, 5 g of dried F. vesiculosus, or 0.5 g of dried Porphyra (control) for 5 weeks, alongside regular treatment. The primary outcome was the between-group difference in the change in weekly average blood glucose levels (continuous glucose monitoring). The secondary outcomes were the changes in anthropometrics, plasma lipid levels, and dietary intake. The data were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model. Results: The change in weekly average glucose levels was 8.2 +/- 2.1 to 9.0 +/- 0.7 mmol/L (p = 0.2) in the S. fusiforme group (n = 12) and 10.1 +/- 3.3 to 9.2 +/- 0.7 mmol/L (p = 0.9) in the F. vesiculosus group (n = 10). The between-group difference was non-significant. Similarly, no between-group differences were observed for the changes in the secondary outcomes. Discussion: A daily intake of 5 g of fresh, dried S. fusiforme or F. vesiculosus alongside regular treatment had no differential effect on weekly average blood glucose levels in T2DM.