Seaweed alginate shows potential to inhibit fat-digesting enzymes

Research published in the journal Food Chemistry has highlighted the potential of seaweed in weight management. Scientists at the University of Newcastle found that alginate, a natural fiber found in seaweed, can inhibit the activity of pancreatic lipase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down fats during digestion.

In laboratory settings, certain types of alginate showed significant inhibition of lipase. When using synthetic substrates, inhibition levels reached approximately 72.2%, while with natural fat substrates, the inhibition was about 58%.

However, experts clarify that these findings are based on laboratory tests and do not imply that consuming seaweed will reduce fat absorption in humans by 75%. The effectiveness of the inhibition depends heavily on the specific structure of the alginate used.