One of the primary ways in which fucoidan can benefit your health is in its ability to interact with, and modulate the immune system.  The ability of a substance to modulate the immune system is extremely useful.

Modulation is a term used to describe the process of reducing the extremes of cellular activity – either stimulation or inhibition.

Immune modulating substances have the ability to work in both directions. They can boost the immune system when it is depressed (referring to conditions such as chronic fatigue) and can also suppress the immune system when it is over-stimulated (such as in the case of autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis).

Your Immune System and the Use of Fucoidan for Prevention

Most immune modulating agents work by improving inter-cellular communication.

One way that cells communicate is by presenting on their surface complex, information-rich protein (glycoprotein) macromolecules linked with molecules of saccharides or sugars (polysaccharides).

An inter-cell “message” depends on the structure of saccharides.

For example, one message might tell a cell to start producing specific chemicals, and another message might tell a cell when to divide.

Cells have glycoprotein receptor molecules, which can read messages from other cells and respond accordingly.

The immune system depends heavily on this kind of communication to co-ordinate cellular defense, apoptosis, cell attack and repair processes. When any of saccharides required to build capable glycoprotein – and thereby to pass on a correct message – is missing, the quality of that communication is jeopardized.

Fucoidan supports the immune system in a number of ways. Some research suggests that it may cause an increase in the number of white blood cells, which are an integral part of the body’s natural immune system. (Refer to the Immune System page for more information on cells of the immune system.)

Findings from other studies suggest that fucoidan supports the immune system by activating important immune responses, such as phagocytosis – a process by which phagocytes “swallow” enemy cells or microbes.

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