Fucoidan attenuated renal fibrosis in a UUO mouse model by normalizing tryptophan pathway intermediates and related metabolic enzymes in the kidneys and partially restoring gut microbial composition.
FPS treatment attenuated renal fibrosis in UUO mice in a dose-dependent manner.
UUO induced pronounced disturbances in tryptophan metabolism in the kidneys.
UUO induced marked gut microbial dysbiosis that was partially restored by FPS treatment.
The anti-fibrotic effects of FPS implicate modulation of both tryptophan metabolism and the gut microbiota as mechanistic pathways.
FPS is supported as a potential natural therapeutic candidate for renal fibrosis and CKD based on its effects in the UUO model.
This research suggests that fucoidan, a natural compound found in brown seaweed, may help protect the kidneys from scarring (fibrosis) in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Using a mouse model where one ureter was blocked to induce kidney fibrosis, the researchers found that giving mice oral fucoidan for two weeks reduced kidney scarring. They also found that the mice with kidney disease had significant disruptions in how their bodies processed tryptophan (an essential amino acid) and in the balance of bacteria living in their guts — and fucoidan helped normalize both of these disruptions. The study used two doses of fucoidan (100 and 200 mg per kilogram of body weight per day) and analyzed the kidneys' chemical makeup (metabolomics) as well as the gut bacterial communities (16S rRNA sequencing). The findings point to a specific biological pathway — tryptophan metabolism — as well as the gut microbiome as key players in how fucoidan exerts its kidney-protective effects. This is notable because while fucoidan's anti-fibrotic properties had been observed before, the underlying mechanisms involving gut bacteria and amino acid metabolism were not previously well understood. This research suggests that fucoidan could be a promising natural dietary supplement or therapeutic candidate for slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease by working through the gut-kidney axis. However, the findings are from an animal model, and further research including human studies would be needed to confirm whether these effects translate to people with CKD.
Zhang Y, Li J, Chen W, Qin F, Tian Y, Zhang Z, et al.. (2026). Fucoidan alleviates kidney fibrosis by shaping the gut microbiota and modulating tryptophan metabolism.. Food & function. https://doi.org/10.1039/d6fo00785f