Can Radiotherapy Side Effects Be Relieved?
New Discoveries with Oligo-Fucoidan
Explore how natural polysaccharides can reduce liver, lung, and intestinal damage, and improve fatigue and quality of life.
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New Discoveries from Clinical Studies on Oligo-Fucoidan
Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of modern cancer treatment. It precisely kills cancer cells and inhibits tumor growth, often used alongside chemotherapy and surgery. However, while destroying cancer cells, radiation inevitably damages surrounding healthy tissue, leading to various side effects such as pneumonitis, enteritis, liver fibrosis, skin damage, and fatigue.
These side effects not only disrupt treatment progress but also severely diminish patients’ quality of life (QoL). According to the 2018 Cancer Treatment Side Effects Perception Survey, as many as 92.4% of cancer patients or their families felt fear or hesitation toward treatment upon hearing about side effects; additionally, 84.9% of patients chose to incorporate adjuvant health supplements, with oligo-fucoidan emerging as one of the most notable options.
Over the past decade, the Taiwan Fucoidan Development Association and multiple medical centers have conducted ongoing research, discovering that oligo-fucoidan not only supports cancer treatment but also effectively alleviates discomfort caused by radiotherapy, serving as a crucial aid for patients in maintaining physical strength and quality of life during therapy.
Can Radiotherapy Side Effects Be Reduced?
Oligo-Fucoidan: The Restorative Power Discovered from the Ocean
Fucoidan is a natural polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed (such as kelp, wakame, and giant kelp), with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory functions. Taiwanese research teams have further reduced its molecular weight to below 500 Daltons, developing oligo-fucoidan, which dramatically enhances absorption and bioavailability.
Studies have found that oligo-fucoidan can alleviate radiotherapy side effects on multiple levels:
- Inhibiting inflammatory responses and fibrosis formation in the body;
- Reducing cellular damage caused by oxidative stress;
- Protecting organ functions such as the liver, lungs, and intestines;
- Promoting cellular repair, improving fatigue, and addressing immune suppression.
The liver is one of the body’s most vital metabolic organs. When the liver region must undergo radiotherapy, radiation-induced liver fibrosis (RIF) is a common complication. Radiation damages hepatocytes, triggering excessive collagen production, gradually hardening liver tissue and potentially leading to liver dysfunction in severe cases.
In a 2020 study published by Associate Investigator Yu Chiu-Hua from the Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine at Taiwan’s National Health Research Institutes, a transgenic zebrafish liver cancer model was used. Results showed that feeding oligo-fucoidan significantly reduced radiotherapy-induced hepatocyte fibrosis and lowered secondary tumor formation.
The study revealed that oligo-fucoidan modulates the ASGR/STAT3/HNF4A signalling pathway in hepatocytes, promoting liver cell regeneration and repair, thereby mitigating radiation-induced damage.
For liver cancer patients or those receiving abdominal radiotherapy, this means not only preservation of liver function but also reduced fatigue and liver-area discomfort during treatment.
Reducing Liver Damage and Fibrosis After Radiotherapy
Reducing Radiation-Induced Pneumonitis and Pulmonary Fibrosis
Chest radiotherapy is commonly used for lung cancer, breast cancer, or lymphoma patients, but one of its frequent side effects is radiation pneumonitis, presenting with cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. If it progresses to the chronic phase, it can lead to pulmonary fibrosis.
In a 2018 study published by Dr. Wu Ssu-Yuan, Department of Radiation Oncology at Taipei Medical University Wanfang Hospital, mice irradiated and then fed oligo-fucoidan showed markedly reduced inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) in the lungs, with significant improvement in pulmonary inflammation and tissue infiltration, and effective suppression of fibrosis formation.
In a follow-up 2020 cell study, Dr. Wu’s team further discovered that administering oligo-fucoidan both before and after radiotherapy more effectively enhanced cellular metabolic activity, reduced type I collagen accumulation, and inhibited activation of the TGF-β1/Smad signalling pathway, thereby lowering the incidence of fibrosis.
For patients, this means that post-radiotherapy breathing discomfort, chronic cough, or lung stiffness can be significantly alleviated, while also reducing the risk of long-term decline in lung function.
Alleviating Radiation Enteritis and Intestinal Discomfort
Patients with pelvic or abdominal tumors often experience diarrhoea, bloating, and abdominal pain during radiotherapy due to radiation damage to the intestines. These symptoms are not only distressing but can also lead to malnutrition and physical decline.
In a 2020 joint study by Dr. Wu Ssu-Yuan and Professor Tsai Hsien-Chih from Taiwan Tech, oligo-fucoidan was shown to reduce oxidative stress in the intestines caused by radiotherapy and mitigate damage to the intestinal mucosa.
Experiments demonstrated that mice given oligo-fucoidan during radiotherapy exhibited significantly less damage to small intestinal crypts and villi, with faster recovery of intestinal barrier function.
The research team concluded that the antioxidant and reparative effects of oligo-fucoidan inhibit free radical production, help maintain intestinal cell integrity, and thereby reduce diarrhoea and absorption disorders, allowing patients to eat more comfortably and regain strength more effectively during treatment.
Improving Treatment Tolerance and Quality of Life
Multiple animal and cell studies confirm that oligo-fucoidan not only reduces organ damage during radiotherapy but also helps patients maintain immunity and repair capacity. Thanks to its natural origin and low toxicity, it is well-suited as nutritional support during standard radiotherapy.
For patients, this means:
- Reduced post-radiotherapy fatigue, pain, and inflammatory reactions;
- Protection of vital organs (liver, lungs, intestines) from fibrotic damage;
- Increased treatment tolerance and lower risk of therapy interruption;
- Enhanced overall quality of life (QoL), including better mental state and appetite.
Physicians remind patients that oligo-fucoidan is a supportive supplement, not a medication. Patients should discuss it with their attending physician before use to confirm appropriate dosage and reliable product sources, and to avoid potential interactions with treatment drugs.
Conclusion: Turning Treatment from Suffering into a Process of Renewal
Radiotherapy is a powerful weapon in cancer treatment, yet its side effects often take a heavy toll on patients’ physical and emotional well-being. As research advances, scientists are increasingly discovering that natural compounds—especially oligo-fucoidan—can help mitigate radiation damage, protect organ function, and sustain strength and hope throughout therapy.
For cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy, oligo-fucoidan offers a new option: transforming treatment from mere “endurance” into genuine recovery. This is not only a scientific breakthrough—it is a compassionate response to patients’ quality of life.
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References
- Yu, C. H., & Lin, C. H. (2020). Low molecular weight fucoidan prevents radiation-induced fibrosis and secondary tumors in a zebrafish model. Marine Drugs, 18(3), 142–156.
- Wu, S. Y., & Chang, C. H. (2018). Fucoidan inhibits radiation-induced pneumonitis and lung fibrosis by reducing inflammatory cytokine expression in lung tissues. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, 102(4), 1184–1194.
- Wu, S. Y., & Lin, C. H. (2020). Protective effect of low-molecular-weight fucoidan on radiation-induced fibrosis through TGF-β1/Smad pathway-mediated inhibition of collagen I accumulation. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 121(8), 3774–3785.
- Wu, S. Y., & Tsai, H. C. (2020). Radioprotective effect of self-assembled low molecular weight fucoidan–chitosan nanoparticles. Carbohydrate Polymers, 235, 115976.