Purpose: Fucoidan is a dietary supplement which is commonly used by cancer patients. However, despite evidence of positive effects in cell culture environments, there are currently no clinical guidelines for supplementary use of fucoidan in cancer patients. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of fucoidan supplemental use.
Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using databases including Cochrane Library, JBI, PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL. All original studies on fucoidan for supplemental use in cancer patients were included. The search was made in databases without time restriction. The outcomes included disease progression status, inflammatory markers, nutritional status, adverse effects, and quality of life. The appraisal tool used was JBI-MAStARI.
Results: Four studies were included: One randomized controlled trial and three quasi-experimental studies. Meta-analysis was not applied due to the heterogeneity of measurement tools. Overall sample size was 118. Most participants were metastatic colorectal and gastric cancer patients. Two studies revealed a significantly longer survival time and chemotherapy treatment periods with fucoidan use. Positive but insignificant effects of disease control rate, inflammatory markers, nutrition status, fatigue, and financial difficulty were shown in those using fucoidan.
Conclusions: The results of this systematic review indicate that the effects of fucoidan were inconsistent with clinical outcomes in metastatic or recurrent cancer patients. Only four studies were included, and heterogeneity in methodologies and relatively small sample sizes limited the research consensus. Although cause and effect between fucoidan and the survival time, disease control or adverse effects could not be confirmed, this study includes the most research on fucoidan in humans.
Keywords: adverse effect; anti-inflammatory effects; disease progression status; fucoidan; metastatic cancer patients; nutrition status; survival time.