‘Sea’ the Potential: Why Marine Ingredients Are Making Waves

Marine-derived ingredients have long played a key role in the nutraceutical industry. From minerals and omega-3 fatty acids to seaweed polysaccharides and algae-derived pigments, the ocean has provided a diverse source of nutritional and bioactive compounds for decades.

However, there is a new “wave” of interest. Marine ingredients are particularly relevant today because they align well with health priorities driving market interest and innovation. 

Consumers are increasingly focused on metabolic health, immune resilience, healthy aging, and maintaining strong bones throughout life. Interest also continues to grow in plant-based nutrition, sustainable sourcing, targeted delivery systems, and science-backed supplementation. 

Seaweed and algae ingredients are well-suited to these trends. Three examples stand out: brown seaweed for metabolic health, mineral-rich red algae for bone health, and red seaweed-derived carrageenan for localized oral and upper-respiratory applications.

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Metabolic Health in the GLP-1 Era

Few areas of nutrition have received as much attention in recent years as metabolic health. The extraordinary interest in GLP-1-based therapies has brought blood glucose regulation, insulin physiology, appetite, body composition, and metabolic health into the mainstream conversation.

However, GLP-1s still must be prescribed by a healthcare provider, and they are not for everyone, whether for health or financial reasons. In that regard, natural nutraceutical ingredients can address consumer demand for maintaining healthy glucose metabolism and supporting metabolic health over the long term.  

Brown seaweed has become quite the star for natural metabolic support, particularly when consumed before a carbohydrate-containing meal. Research has identified that brown seaweeds Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus can inhibit carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, including alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. Slowing the breakdown of carbohydrates into absorbable sugars can moderate the post-meal blood glucose spike.

In one particular randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, a 500 mg preparation containing A. nodosum and F. vesiculosus was consumed 30 minutes before a carbohydrate load. The brown seaweed preparation reduced glycemic stress by 48.3% (indicated by reduced iAUC, a measure of total post-meal glucose exposure over time).¹ These results suggest that consuming a well-characterized brown seaweed extract before meals can promote a more moderate post-meal glucose response and keep blood sugar levels in check. 

While individual meal responses are only one piece of the metabolic-health puzzle, consistently supporting healthier glucose and insulin responses is important for long-term metabolic health. This was supported by another study in which the brown seaweed preparation was taken regularly over 6 months. The results showed a significant improvement in fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, and other markers, indicating improved glycemic control over time. The metabolic status of subjects actually improved after supplementation with the brown seaweed preparation.²

As consumers become increasingly interested in managing metabolic health through everyday nutrition, a targeted ingredient that fits easily into a simple routine, such as taking it before a carbohydrate-containing meal, makes brown seaweed an especially noteworthy marine ingredient for formulations.

However, ingredient quality is particularly important in this application. “Brown seaweed extract” does not necessarily tell a formulator very much. Species selection, extraction conditions, targeted compounds, and standardization can all influence the resulting ingredient. A clinically studied, traceable, standardized extract with a defined composition provides a more meaningful starting point for a pre-meal metabolic-health product than an undifferentiated seaweed powder.

“For formulators, the question is no longer simply which nutrient to add, but whether a particular source offers a meaningful advantage for the product they want to create. Consumers, in turn, should do their part to ask what an ingredient actually is, what research supports its use, and where it comes from.”

Strong Bones Across the Lifespan

Bone health is another area that is particularly relevant because it fits into the trending categories of women’s health and longevity. 

Proper calcium absorption is essential for building an adequate skeletal foundation during childhood and adolescence, maintaining bone mass through adulthood, and preserving bone strength later in life. Unfortunately, many consumers still don’t get enough calcium through diet, and existing rock-based calcium supplements aren’t always well tolerated. 

Marine algae to the rescue. Red marine algae, Lithothamnion calcareum, serves as a whole-food source of natural calcium carbonate. This species grows in the Atlantic Ocean and naturally absorbs minerals throughout its life cycle, retaining them within a calcified, porous matrix enriched with trace minerals and amino acids.³

Compared with conventional mineral sources such as limestone or oyster shell, it possesses a markedly greater surface area.⁴ This unique physical architecture and highly porous matrix may translate to superior absorption and better tolerability, making it an important distinction for formulators interested in whole-food-derived ingredients.

Scientific research provides some intriguing evidence. In one study, calcium derived from Lithothamnion calcareum produced more prolonged suppression of parathyroid hormone (PTH), a regulator of calcium metabolism, after a meal compared with placebo, while calcium carbonate produced an intermediate response.⁵ These findings suggest that the source of calcium may influence
calcium metabolism.

Depleting natural resources is often a concern when sourcing ingredients from the ocean. However, Lithothamnion calcareum continuously regenerates and mineralizes in a renewable cycle, providing a sustainable source of calcium. Combined with responsible harvesting practices that support natural regeneration and protect marine ecosystems, sourcing this marine source of plant-based calcium can actually minimize negative impacts compared to the quarries necessary to produce rock-based calcium carbonate. For an industry looking at lifelong health and more resource-conscious nutrition products, well-characterized algae-based calcium is a noteworthy option.

Immune Support: When a Localized Delivery Format Matters

Immune health remains a consumer priority, especially as we enter cold and flu season. Carrageenan, a sulfated polysaccharide derived from red seaweed, shows how marine ingredients may support localized respiratory applications.

Although it is not a new ingredient, certain forms, like iota-carrageenan, are gaining attention in immune-support products, thanks to recent studies.

Unlike a capsule or tablet that is swallowed, a lozenge dissolves gradually, exposing saliva and the tissues of the mouth and throat to the ingredient. In a study involving 31 healthy adults, saliva collected after use of an iota-carrageenan lozenge demonstrated antiviral activity against several respiratory viruses in laboratory assays, including influenza A, seasonal coronavirus, and SARS-CoV-2.⁶

New research adds another dimension: combining a European black elderberry extract with iota-carrageenan produced greater antiviral activity against several respiratory viruses in cell-based experiments than either ingredient alone under certain conditions. These findings highlight the potential of combining botanical and marine-derived ingredients to produce innovative and effective nutraceutical ingredient options.⁷

The Broader Marine Opportunity

These examples represent a small fraction of the nutraceutical treasures the ocean provides. The real potential of marine ingredients extends beyond seaweed extracts, algae-derived minerals, and marine polysaccharides. It offers biological structures, compounds and combinations, and benefits that can inspire entirely different approaches to formulation.

Consider the contrast: a brown seaweed extract designed around the body’s response to a meal, a red algae mineral matrix that delivers bioavailable calcium alongside naturally occurring minerals, or a seaweed polysaccharide being explored for activity at the body’s entry points for respiratory viruses. Each represents a different way of thinking about an ingredient’s value, shifting the focus from what a compound contains to how its properties might be put to work.

That shift also raises the bar for ingredient development. Not every marine-derived material will deliver the same results, and a compelling origin story is no substitute for clinical evidence or responsible sourcing. Ingredients must be backed by a clear understanding of what they are, how they work, where they fit, and how they are sourced.

For formulators, the question is no longer simply which nutrient to add, but whether a particular source offers a meaningful advantage for the product they want to create. Consumers, in turn, should do their part to ask what an ingredient actually is, what research supports its use, and where it comes from.

The ocean has long contributed to nutraceutical innovation, and yet its remarkable biological diversity offers opportunities we are still learning about in real time. The next big breakthrough may not come from discovering an entirely new ingredient, but from recognizing where existing marine-derived ingredients can bring something different and desirable to the table.

About the Author: Melanie Bush is vice president of science and research at Artemis International. With more than 15 years of experience at the company, her responsibilities span several departments including quality assurance, R&D, and technical sales support. She enjoys spearheading new research in the field of dark berry extracts and communicating the ever-evolving science of berry phytonutrients. For more information, visit https://artemis-nutraceuticals.com.  

References

1. Paradis ME, Couture P, Lamarche B. A randomised crossover placebo-controlled trial investigating the effect of brown seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus) on post challenge plasma glucose and insulin levels in men and women. Br J Nutr. 2011;105(11):1684-1693.

2. Nicolucci A, Rossi MC, Petrelli M. Effectiveness of Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus on Metabolic Syndrome Components: A Real-World, Observational Study. J Diabetes Res. 2021 Sep 30;2021:3389316.

3. da Silva RP, Kawai GSD, Andrade FRDd, Bezzon VDN, Ferraz HG. Characterisation and Traceability of Calcium Carbonate from the Seaweed Lithothamnium calcareum. Solids. 2021; 2(2):192-211.

4. Raut, Supriya H, Gadani, Mihir C. “Comparative characterization study of plant based calcium versus synthetic calcium.” Int J Pharm Chem Anal, vol. 8, no. 3, 2021, pp. 134-140.

5. Zenk JL, Frestedt JL, Kuskowski MA. Effect of calcium derived from Lithothamnion sp. on markers of calcium metabolism in premenopausal women. J Med Food. 2018;21(2):154-161.

6. Morokutti-Kurz M, Unger-Manhart N, Graf P, Rauch P, Kodnar J, Große M, Setz C, Savli M, Ehrenreich F, Grassauer A, Prieschl-Grassauer E, Schubert U. The Saliva of Probands Sucking an Iota-Carrageenan Containing Lozenge Inhibits Viral Binding and Replication of the Most Predominant Common Cold Viruses and SARS-CoV-2. Int J Gen Med. 2021;14:5241-5249

7. Setz C, Setz M, Rauch P, Schleicher O, Plattner S, Grassauer A, Schubert U. Synergistic Virus Neutralizing Activities of European Black Elderberry Fruit Extract and Iota-Carrageenan Against SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A Virus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Nutrients. 2026; 18(8):1205.