Vitamin Research Products Fudoidan Review
This brand contains an odd mix of 300 mcg of iodine, 75 mg fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus, 75 mg of N-Acetyl Glucosamine from crab, 75 mg of Larch Arabinogalactans and more Kelp. No standardized fucoidan.
$32.00 – 35.00 per bottle.
Quick Comparison
- Sometimes more isn’t better, especially when the ingredients don’t make sense. Vitamin Research Products (VRP) Fucoidan has an odd mix of iodine, N-Acetyl Glucosamine, Larch Arabinogalactans, and Kelp with 75 mg of unstandardized fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus for $35.00. These ingredients are contraindicated for numerous preexisting conditions which makes me wonder if VRP did any product research at all!
Review
My review of VRP’s fucoidan supplement revealed some unexpected and disturbing facts. After taking a deeper look, I discovered that this product contains some potentially harmful ingredients, and NO standardized fucoidan content!
The company website touts a highly purified extract. Through my research, I’ve come to find out that overly or highly purified fucoidan can chop up the fucoidan polymer and lower its effectiveness or make it completely ineffective. It has been demonstrated in study after study that harsh extraction methods affect the composition of fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides responsible for fucoidans benefits.
Remember, “Any changes in a fucoidans structural make-up, sugar composition, sulfate content and ester groups, can change the fucoidans effectiveness [simple_tooltip content='(2)The Royal Society of Chemistry 2013 RSC Adv., 2013, 3, 8131-8141 Fucoidans from brown seaweeds: an update on structures, extraction techniques and use of enzymes as tools for structural elucidation. Marcel Tutor Ale and Anne S. Meyer ‘](2)[/simple_tooltip]. The intensity of biological activities of fucoidan varies with species, molecular weight, composition, structure and the route of administration.”[simple_tooltip content='(6) Therapies from Fucoidan; Multifunctional Marine Polymers Mar Drugs. 2011; 9(10): 1731–1760. Published online 2011 Sep 30. doi: 10.3390/md9101731 ‘](6)[/simple_tooltip]
VRP’s formula is potentially hazardous to your health, and the ingredients are contra-indicated for people with diabetes, cancer, blood thinners, or taking Tylenol. Meaning all of the expected benefits of a fucoidan supplement are literally non-existent in this product. While VRP is on the more affordable side at $34.95 per bottle, I highly recommend avoiding this product at all costs!
By comparison, Fucoidan Force™ exclusively uses the #1 most studied source of fucoidan – 100% Organic wakame seaweed, because it’s scientifically proven, low in sodium and iodine, and responsible for the astounding health and wellness benefits of fucoidan.
For a few dollars more you get the assurance of 400 mg of standardized Undaria pinnatifida (wakame), plus the healthy immune system modulating properties of Reishi mushroom extract. And, unlike VRP, Fucoidan Force™ uses a patented cold-water extraction method that protects the delicate fucoidan molecules. The choice is obvious.
Conclusion: Avoid it. Non-standardized fucoidan is a gamble. Also, the cost of real fucoidan is expensive. It is safe to assume that all fucoidan products being sold under $30 a bottle claiming to have upwards of 80% fucoidan are from a compromised source and its ingredients are contraindicated for certain health conditions.
