What is Fucoxanthin?Fucoxanthin is a naturally occurring substance represented by the chemical formula C42H58O6. Fucoxanthin is a pigment that falls under the broad category of caretonoids. These pigments are found in many plants and also in organisms that use photosynthesis to obtain nourishment. Lycopene and beta-carotene are also considered caretonoids. The bodies of both animals and humans are incapable of producing their own caretonoids, so eating food sources rich in specific caretonoids such as fucoxanthin or taking supplements are the only ways to get these important substances. Fucoxanthin supplements have become increasingly popular in recent years, but substances that contain fucoxanthin are somewhat limited in scope. Fucoxanthin may be found in brown algae, and more specifically brown seaweed. It is estimated that there are as many as 2,000 distinct brown seaweed species, and the environments where fucoxanthin-rich brown seaweeds thrive are diverse. For example, certain species of brown seaweed are abundant in the cool waters of North America, but others also live in warmer, tropical waters, often in the vicinity of coral reefs. Fucoxanthin-containing seaweeds are quite easy to find, as they often live in shallow waters, and can usually be found attached to underwater rock surfaces. Different species, however, will thrive at different depths and in different surroundings, depending on their physical structure. Brown seaweeds are diverse in appearance. Some are thin, rope-like structures that can grow to be up to 20 feet long, while others are flatter, smaller structures that may grow to be only a few feet. Although all species of brown seaweed contain fucoxanthin, some contain a higher amount than others. The presence of fucoxanthin in all algae species can be readily determined by examining their color. As the name suggests, these algae are usually brown or olive green. Other categories of algae, including red algae and green algae, do not contain fucoxanthin. Green algae, for instance, contains the green pigment chlorophyll, which gives the algae its distinctive color. Brown seaweed, contrary to what one might think, also contains chlorophyll. However, the fucoxanthin pigment overrides the chlorophyll pigment, and so the green color is not observable. Based on fossil records, it is estimated that the diverse plant species that fall under the brown algae category may be hundreds of millions of years old. Fucoxanthin, in addition to being present in only brown algae, is also produced in a highly specific area of the cell. Fucoxanthin is produced solely in the chloroplast of the cell, the structure that is responsible for using sunlight to produce energy and nourishment through a process known as photosynthesis. Currently, much research is being conducted on how to extract fucoxanthin from certain species of brown algae, which would allow people to ingest a highly concentrated dose of the substance. Although many species of brown seaweed are important to the ecosystems in which they live and the survival of surrounding marine life, not all types of brown seaweed and the fucoxanthin they contain are able to be consumed by humans. Wakame is perhaps the best-known type of brown algae that is routinely consumed by humans, particularly those living in Asian countries, which isn't surprising since the plant is native to Korea, China, and Japan. Currently, however, it can also be found in other parts of the world, including Great Britain and Italy. Fucoxanthin-containing wakame can be found in a variety of dishes in Asian countries, and it is these locations that have been known to historically consume some of the highest levels of fucoxanthin. As supplements are developed, however, many people across the world may soon attempt to incorporate fucoxanthin into their diets.
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