Home Ingredients FucoMax® (Brown Algae Fucoidan, BGG World)

FucoMax® (Brown Algae Fucoidan, BGG World)

Undaria pinnatifida, Laminaria japonica, Cladosiphon okamuranus (source species listed by the supplier)
Evidence Level
Preliminary
0 Clinical Trials
5 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

FucoMax® is a fucoidan ingredient sold by BGG World. BGG describes it as extracted from the brown seaweeds Undaria pinnatifida (wakame), Laminaria (kelp) and Cladosiphon okamuranus (mozuku), offered as 50, 70 or 85 percent fucoidan powder with about 100 ppm iodine. We found no published human trial of FucoMax itself. A lab study on cells names it, and a rat study of a wheat peptide and fucoidan blend used kelp fucoidan from Beijing Gingko Group (BGG). Human fucoidan research used other makers' products: a Japanese maker's wakame fucoidan in a flu vaccine antibody trial in older adults, and Maritech extracts from the Australian company Marinova, which funded small trials of immune markers in active adults. Those results cannot be assumed to apply to FucoMax. Taken by mouth, fucoidan had little effect on blood clotting in a small study despite strong activity in the test tube.

Studied Dose No dose of FucoMax itself has been tested. Trials of other makers' fucoidan used 300 mg/day (Riken mekabu fucoidan, vaccine trial) and 1 g/day (Marinova Undaria extracts, exercise trials); a 12-day clotting study used 3 g/day of a 75 percent fucoidan.
Active Compound Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide built mainly from fucose, extracted from brown seaweeds; the supplier lists Undaria pinnatifida, Laminaria japonica and Cladosiphon okamuranus as sources and grades of 50, 70 or 85 percent fucoidan.

Benefits

Stomach lining findings in animal studies

In rats, a 10 to 3 blend of wheat peptides and kelp fucoidan supplied by Beijing Gingko Group (BGG) reduced alcohol-induced damage to the stomach lining over 30 days. A placebo-controlled trial of a wheat peptide and fucoidan blend in adults with stomach lining inflammation came from the same Amway institute and does not name its fucoidan source, so neither study shows what fucoidan alone does.

Immune markers in trials of other fucoidan products

In Marinova-funded trials of its Maritech extracts (not FucoMax), small groups of healthy or active adults showed shifts in some lymphocyte counts, salivary IgA and cytokines, but most markers did not change and the open-label study had no placebo group. These are blood or saliva markers, not fewer infections.

Vaccine antibody response with another maker's fucoidan

In a placebo-controlled trial in 70 adults over 60, 300 mg a day of Riken Mekabu Fucoidan, a wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) product from a Japanese maker, taken for 4 weeks before a seasonal flu shot was followed by higher antibody levels against all three vaccine strains. It measured antibodies, not illness, and did not test FucoMax.

Inflammatory markers in trials of other fucoidan products

In an open-label study in 10 healthy adults, a Marinova seaweed blend with added nutrients at 100 or 1,000 mg a day for 4 weeks was followed by lower blood IL-6. In a Marinova-funded exercise trial, fucoidan raised IL-6 and IL-10 after hard exercise. A review of studies in people under cancer care found effects on inflammatory markers that were not significant.

Clotting effects: strong in the test tube, weak when swallowed

Fucoidan is a strong heparin-like anticoagulant in the test tube. In a small 12-day human study, 3 g daily of a 75 percent fucoidan lengthened one clotting time from about 28 to 34 seconds, and the authors judged the effect when swallowed not obvious, probably because little is absorbed. This is a caution: anyone on blood thinners or facing surgery should ask a clinician first.

Mechanism of action

1

A sulfated polysaccharide that varies by source

Fucoidan is a fucose-rich sulfated polysaccharide whose structure differs with seaweed species and extraction, and extracts can carry co-extracted contaminants. A review notes that this variability has held back reproducible, quality-controlled production, so fucoidan products are not interchangeable; no comparison of FucoMax with other extracts has been published.

2

Little is absorbed from the gut

In a 12-day human study, fucoidan that was a strong anticoagulant in the test tube had little effect on clotting when swallowed, which the authors attributed to low intestinal absorption. Any effect of oral fucoidan may therefore begin mostly in the gut.

3

Gut bacteria research

A review of fucoidans and bowel health describes studies in which fucoidans altered gut bacteria and intestinal inflammation, and notes that evidence linking fucoidans to gut microbiota and bowel health is still limited. None of that work tested FucoMax.

Clinical trials

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

No safety trial of FucoMax itself has been published. In trials of other makers' fucoidan at 300 mg to 1 g a day, few adverse events were reported, and one Marinova-funded exercise trial reported none.
Iodine: whole brown seaweed can be very high in iodine, and how much reaches a fucoidan extract depends on the raw seaweed and how far it is purified. BGG lists FucoMax at about 100 ppm iodine (about 100 micrograms per gram of powder); this is the supplier's figure, not an independent test. Excess iodine can disturb thyroid function, so anyone with a thyroid condition, on thyroid medication, or pregnant should check the iodine per serving and consult a clinician.
Clotting: fucoidan has strong heparin-like activity in the test tube, but a small human study found little effect when it was swallowed; still worth raising before surgery and if you take blood thinners.
Long-term safety of concentrated fucoidan extracts is not established, and dietary seaweed is a different exposure from a daily concentrated extract.
Pregnancy and lactation: concentrated fucoidan supplements have not been studied in pregnancy; consult a clinician.

Important Drug interactions

Anticoagulants (warfarin, DOACs, heparin): fucoidan is a strong anticoagulant in the test tube. In a small 12-day human study, 3 g/day lengthened one clotting time (aPTT) from about 28 to 34 seconds, which the authors judged not an obvious effect. Because the effect when swallowed is uncertain, ask your prescriber before combining and tell your surgeon before any operation.
Antiplatelets (aspirin, clopidogrel): an additive effect is theoretical rather than shown in people; ask a clinician and watch for unusual bruising or bleeding.
Thyroid medications: iodine content depends on the raw seaweed and how far the extract is purified, so check the label for iodine and consult your prescriber if you take thyroid medication.
Immunosuppressants: theoretical interaction via immune modulation; consult your prescriber.
Chemotherapy: a systematic review found only four small studies of fucoidan alongside cancer treatment, with inconsistent results; none used FucoMax. Consult your oncologist before combining.
NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen): fucoidan's heparin-like activity in the test tube may add to the bleeding risk of aspirin and other NSAIDs; no study has tested FucoMax with these drugs, so ask a clinician before combining.
Pregnancy and lactation: consult clinician for supplemental doses.

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Frequently asked questions about FucoMax® (Brown Algae Fucoidan, BGG World)

Has FucoMax itself been tested in people?

Not in any published trial we found in PubMed, Europe PMC or on BGG's own product page. A lab study names FucoMax and tested it on cells, and a rat study of a wheat peptide and fucoidan blend used fucoidan from Beijing Gingko Group (BGG). A placebo-controlled trial of a similar two-ingredient blend in adults does not name its fucoidan source. The other human fucoidan studies on this page used other makers' products, so their results may not apply to FucoMax.

Is FucoMax the same as Maritech fucoidan?

No. FucoMax is sold by BGG World and, per BGG, comes from wakame, kelp and mozuku. Maritech is a different range of extracts made by the Australian company Marinova, which funded most of the small trials on immune markers in active adults. See our Maritech fucoidan page for those trials.

What is FucoMax?

FucoMax® is a fucoidan ingredient sold by BGG World. BGG describes it as extracted from the brown seaweeds Undaria pinnatifida (wakame), Laminaria (kelp) and Cladosiphon okamuranus (mozuku), offered as 50, 70 or 85 percent fucoidan powder with about 100 ppm iodine. We found no published human trial of FucoMax itself.

What is FucoMax used for?

NutraSmarts does not list FucoMax under a health category. What the research covers: In rats, a 10 to 3 blend of wheat peptides and kelp fucoidan supplied by Beijing Gingko Group (BGG) reduced alcohol-induced damage to the stomach lining over 30 days.

What is the recommended dosage of FucoMax?

No dose of FucoMax itself has been tested. Trials of other makers' fucoidan used 300 mg/day (Riken mekabu fucoidan, vaccine trial) and 1 g/day (Marinova Undaria extracts, exercise trials); a 12-day clotting study used 3 g/day of a 75 percent fucoidan. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is FucoMax safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for FucoMax include: No safety trial of FucoMax itself has been published. In trials of other makers' fucoidan at 300 mg to 1 g a day, few adverse events were reported, and one Marinova-funded exercise trial reported none. It may also interact with some medications. FucoMax is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does FucoMax interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Anticoagulants (warfarin, DOACs, heparin): fucoidan is a strong anticoagulant in the test tube. In a small 12-day human study, 3 g/day lengthened one clotting time (aPTT) from about 28 to 34 seconds, which the authors judged not an obvious effect. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for FucoMax?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for FucoMax as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 15 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(15 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Negishi H, Mori M, Mori H, Yamori Y. Supplementation of elderly Japanese men and women with fucoidan from seaweed increases immune responses to seasonal influenza vaccination. J Nutr. 2013;143(11):1794-8. doi: 10.3945/jn.113.179036.PubMedUsed to support: Other-product reference, not FucoMax: the full text names the fucoidan as Riken Mekabu Fucoidan (Riken Vitamin), from wakame (Undaria pinnatifida). In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 70 Japanese adults over 60, 300 mg/day for 4 weeks before seasonal flu vaccination gave higher hemagglutination-inhibition antibody titers than placebo. Flu illness was not measured. Self-funded.
  2. McFadden BA, Vincenty CS, Chandler AJ, Cintineo HP, Lints BS, Mastrofini GF, Arent SM. Effects of fucoidan supplementation on inflammatory and immune response after high-intensity exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2023;20(1):2224751. doi: 10.1080/15502783.2023.2224751.PubMedUsed to support: Other-product reference, not FucoMax: the capsules were an Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan extract produced by Marinova, which funded the study. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover in 16 recreationally active adults, 1 g/day for 2 weeks did not change exercise performance or most blood markers; interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 were higher, not lower, 30 minutes after high-intensity exercise. No adverse events.
  3. Cox AJ, Speer H, Radcliffe CR, Masocha K, Ramsey R, West NP, Pyne DB. Immunomodulatory effects of fucoidan in recreationally active adult males undertaking 3-weeks of intensified training. J Sports Sci. 2023;41(20):1875-1882. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2024.2305007.PubMedUsed to support: Other-product reference, not FucoMax: the registry entry ACTRN12621000872831 lists Marinova as funder and supplier of an Undaria and Fucus extract with 75.5% fucoidan, while the paper describes an Undaria extract with over 85% fucoidan. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover in 12 recreationally active men, 1 g/day for 3 weeks of intensified training left fecal and resting salivary markers largely stable; the salivary IgA response to acute exercise was about 2.7-fold higher on fucoidan (p = 0.02).
  4. Wu CJ, Yeh TP, Wang YJ, Hu HF, Tsay SL, Liu LC. Effectiveness of Fucoidan on Supplemental Therapy in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review. Healthcare (Basel). 2022;10(5):923. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10050923.PubMedUsed to support: Systematic review (4 studies including 1 RCT) of fucoidan supplementation as adjuvant therapy in cancer patients; included only 4 studies in roughly 118 patients and concluded that fucoidan's effects were inconsistent with clinical outcomes in metastatic or recurrent cancer patients; cited here to show the limits of the cancer evidence, not to support any cancer use.
  5. Yang JY, Lim SY. Fucoidans and Bowel Health. Mar Drugs. 2021;19(8):436. doi: 10.3390/md19080436.PubMedUsed to support: Review of fucoidans and bowel health: describes their bioactivities (including antioxidant, anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory activity) and studies of their effects on gut bacteria and intestinal inflammation, and notes that evidence linking fucoidans to gut microbiota and bowel health is limited. Not specific to FucoMax.
  6. Myers SP, O'Connor J, Fitton JH, Brooks L, Rolfe M, Connellan P, Wohlmuth H, Cheras PA, Morris C. A combined Phase I and II open-label study on the immunomodulatory effects of seaweed extract nutrient complex. Biologics. 2011;5:45-60. doi: 10.2147/BTT.S12535.PubMedUsed to support: Other-product reference, not FucoMax: the study medication was a blend of Maritech extracts from Marinova (Fucus vesiculosus 85%, Macrocystis pyrifera 10%, Laminaria japonica 5%) with added nutrients; the study was sponsored by Marinova, and author J. H. Fitton was employed by Marinova. Open-label study in 10 healthy adults at 100 mg/day (n=5) or 1000 mg/day (n=5) for 4 weeks: combined across doses, cytotoxic T-cell numbers and monocyte phagocytosis rose and serum interleukin-6 fell, with no dose response. No placebo group.
  7. Irhimeh MR, Fitton JH, Lowenthal RM. Pilot clinical study to evaluate the anticoagulant activity of fucoidan. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 2009;20(7):607-10. doi: 10.1097/MBC.0b013e32833135fe.PubMedUsed to support: Single-blind trial in 20 volunteers: 3 g/day of a 75 percent fucoidan or guar gum placebo for 12 days. Activated partial thromboplastin time rose from 28.41 to 34.01 seconds, but the authors judged the effect when swallowed not obvious, probably because little is absorbed, even though fucoidan was a very strong anticoagulant in the test tube.
  8. Liu TC, Shih CJ, Chiou YL. Oral administration of oligo fucoidan improves the survival rate, quality of life, and immunity in patients with lung cancer. Food Nutr Res. 2024;68. doi: 10.29219/fnr.v68.10674.PubMedUsed to support: Small study in 20 people with non-small cell lung cancer (7 control, 13 taking oligo-fucoidan with conventional therapy) for 24 weeks. Reported survival was 20 percent in the control group and 28.6 percent in the fucoidan group, the quality-of-life difference was not statistically significant, and CD19 lymphocytes rose. Cited to show how thin the cancer data are, not to support any cancer use.
  9. NXT Ingredients. FucoMax by BGG World (distributor product page). Distributor website. 2026;Accessed 2026-10-04..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed; supplier marketing information. Lists the source species as Undaria pinnatifida, Laminaria japonica and Cladosiphon okamuranus, standardized to 50 to 85 percent fucoidan, with low iodine content and reduced heavy metals. These are the supplier's own claims, not independent test results.
  10. Kan J, Hood M, Burns C, Scholten J, Chuang J, Tian F, Pan X, Du J, Gui M. A Novel Combination of Wheat Peptides and Fucoidan Attenuates Ethanol-Induced Gastric Mucosal Damage through Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Pro-Survival Mechanisms. Nutrients. 2017;9(9):978. doi: 10.3390/nu9090978.PubMedUsed to support: Rat and cell study, not a human trial: a blend of wheat peptides and fucoidan at 1 g to 300 mg (the stated daily human amount), given to rats for 30 days, reduced ethanol-induced damage to the stomach lining. The full text says the fucoidan was extracted from Laminaria japonica and came from Beijing Gingko Group (BGG); a 2024 review lists it as FucoMax. Wheat peptides made up most of the blend. All authors but one were employees of the Nutrilite Health Institute (Amway).
  11. Kan J, Cheng J, Xu L, Hood M, Zhong D, Cheng M, Liu Y, Chen L, Du J. The combination of wheat peptides and fucoidan protects against chronic superficial gastritis and alters gut microbiota: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Eur J Nutr. 2020;59(4):1655-1666. doi: 10.1007/s00394-019-02020-6.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 106 adults with chronic superficial gastritis: a wheat peptide and fucoidan combination once daily for 45 days was followed by less gastric mucosal damage on gastroscopy and fewer digestive complaints than placebo. A two-ingredient blend from the Nutrilite Health Institute (Amway); FucoMax is not named in the abstract, and the result cannot be credited to fucoidan alone.
  12. Zayed A, Ulber R. Fucoidan production: Approval key challenges and opportunities. Carbohydr Polym. 2019;211:289-297. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.01.105.PubMedUsed to support: Review explaining that fucoidan is not one uniform molecule: its structure is heterogeneous, extracts can carry co-extracted contaminants, and these problems have held back reproducible, quality-controlled production. Supports the point that fucoidan products differ by source and process.
  13. Lara-Hernández G, Ramos-Silva JA, Pérez-Soto E, Figueroa M, Flores-Berrios EP, Sánchez-Chapul L, Andrade-Cabrera JL, Luna-Angulo A, Landa-Solís C, Avilés-Arnaut H. Anticancer Activity of Plant Tocotrienols, Fucoxanthin, Fucoidan, and Polyphenols in Dietary Supplements. Nutrients. 2024;16(24):4274. doi: 10.3390/nu16244274.PubMedUsed to support: Cell-culture study, not a human trial: the full text lists FucoMax (fucoidan from Laminaria japonica, Undaria pinnatifida and Cladosiphon okamuranus), bought from BGG, among the compounds tested on human cancer cell lines in the lab. The only primary research paper found that names FucoMax; it says nothing about effects in people.
  14. BGG World. FucoMax® fucoidan (product page) Manufacturer website. 2026;Accessed 2026-10-31..SourceUsed to support: Not PubMed-indexed; manufacturer marketing information. Lists the source seaweeds as Undaria pinnatifida, Laminaria (named as L. saccharina, syn. L. japonica) and Cladosiphon okamuranus, grades of 50, 70 and 85 percent fucoidan by HPLC, and a very low iodine content of about 100 ppm. The studies it cites are a rat study and wheat peptide plus fucoidan combination studies; none tested FucoMax by name.
  15. Ren X, Cai S, Zhong Y, Tang L, Xiao M, Li S, Zhu C, Li D, Mou H, Fu X. Marine-Derived Fucose-Containing Carbohydrates: Review of Sources, Structure, and Beneficial Effects on Gastrointestinal Health. Foods. 2024;13(21):3460. doi: 10.3390/foods13213460.PubMedUsed to support: Review of fucose-containing seaweed carbohydrates and gut health. Its table of gastrointestinal studies lists FucoMax (Undaria pinnatifida, Laminaria saccharina and Cladosiphon okamuranus) as the fucoidan in the rat study of ethanol-induced stomach lining damage (Kan 2017). No human trial of FucoMax is listed.