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Ulcerative Colitis (UC)Phase 1/2SEA-GUTNCT07786389

Seaweed Extract (Fucoidan) for Gut Inflammation in Ulcerative Colitis

A Phase 1/2 study of Ulcerative Colitis (UC), run by Allama Iqbal Medical College at 1 site in Pakistan.

Enrolling by invitation

Enrolling by invitation. The study team selects and invites participants, usually from an existing group of patients.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

What is the research question being addressed? Does combining Turbinaria ornata-derived fucoidan with standard therapy lead to a significantly higher rate of gut health restoration-defined by increased fecal short-chain fatty acid (butyrate/acetate) levels, reduced fecal calprotectin, and improved stool… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 64 years
Conditions the study is for
Ulcerative Colitis (UC)
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
90 participants
Where
1 sitePakistan
Study dates
Aug 2026to Dec 2027
Phase
Phase 1/2
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 64 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Male and female patients aged between 18-64 years;
  • Active mild to moderate diagnosed cases of uc
  • Voluntarily agreeing to participate and providing informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • Other autoimmune disorders and chronic diseases.
  • Patient with Clotting problems.
  • Patients using oral/intravenous steroids, leukotriene antagonists, immunosuppressant's, systemic photo chemotherapy, immunotherapy, allergen-specific immunotherapy, or Chinese herbal medicine within one month before enrolment.
  • Patient unable to take the trial supplements as scheduled or cooperate in filling out the questionnaire and taking a blood test.
  • Patients with a history of allergy
  • Patients suffering from serious infection requiring hospitalization assessed by a clinician
Show all 11Show fewer
  • Severe organ dysfunction (e.g., heart failure, liver failure, liver cirrhosis, or renal failure assessed by a clinician.
  • Pregnant women or those preparing for pregnancy, and those in lactation.
  • Patient with hypothyroidism.
  • Patients with a history of allergy to Soy.
  • Acute severe (fulminant) UC

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Pakistan1 site
  • Allama Iqbal Medical college

    Lahore, Punjab Province, 54590

Other trials in Pakistan

About this study

Official title: Effects of Brown Algae (Turbinaria Ornata) Derived Fucoidan on Intestinal Inflammation and Gut Health in Ulcerative Colitis Patients

What is the research question being addressed? Does combining Turbinaria ornata-derived fucoidan with standard therapy lead to a significantly higher rate of gut health restoration-defined by increased fecal short-chain fatty acid (butyrate/acetate) levels, reduced fecal calprotectin, and improved stool consistency-compared to standard therapy alone in Ulcerative Colitis patients? Type of study: Interventional Study design: Randomized controlled trial Masking: Participants Control: Placebo Assignment: Parallel Purpose: Other Adjuvant / Add-On Therapy (Complementary Prebiotic Strategy) Study Phase: Phase1

Read the detailed description

Intervention Efficacy \& Evidence Status Whether combining Turbinaria ornata-derived fucoidan with standard therapy leads to a statistically significant increase in gut health restoration in human Ulcerative Colitis (UC) patients remains an unproven hypothesis, as robust Phase II/III clinical trial data in humans is currently lacking.

Preclinical animal models (such as DSS-induced colitis in mice) and in vitro fermentation models support the biological rationale for this combination:

Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs): Marine sulfated polysaccharides (fucoidans) act as prebiotic non-digestible carbohydrates. Commensal anaerobic gut bacteria ferment fucoidan, leading to an increase in butyrate, acetate, and propionate levels.

Fecal Calprotectin: Fucoidan suppresses the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), reducing mucosal neutrophil infiltration, and subsequently lowering fecal calprotectin.

Stool Consistency: Through structural restoration of epithelial tight junctions (ZO-1, Claudin-1) and mucin protection (MUC2), fucoidan mitigates mucosal erosion and diarrhea, improving stool consistency scores.

Classification of the Intervention Intervention Category: Adjuvant / Add-On Therapy (Complementary Prebiotic Strategy)

Sub-type: Natural Product-derived Bioactive / Marine Polysaccharide Supplement

Mechanistic Role: Co-administered with standard pharmacotherapy (e.g., 5-aminosalicylates like Mesalamine, corticosteroids, or biologics) to target mucosal healing and gut dysbiosis concurrently with immune suppression. Phase IIa (Proof-of-Concept) is the most appropriate trial classification for testing Turbinaria ornata-derived fucoidan in Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Because oral fucoidan preparations have a recognized history of human use for other indications (such as osteoarthritis, oncological adjuncts, and metabolic health), its basic systemic safety and human oral tolerance are already documented. However, because it has never been evaluated in human UC populations.

Primary Reasons for Phase IIa RecommendationEvaluating Disease-Specific Mucosal Safety: Ulcerative Colitis involves an inflamed, ulcerated, and hyper-permeable mucosal barrier. Even though fucoidan is safe in intact human guts, its local tolerance, systemic absorption rates, and safety profile must be confirmed specifically in patients with active mucosal friability. Determining Biological Proof-of-Concept: Phase IIa focuses on demonstrating that the drug hits its intended targets using surrogate biomarkers. Measuring fecal calprotectin reduction and changes in fecal SCFA (butyrate/acetate) levels provides objective evidence that the bioactive agent is exerting its anti-inflammatory and prebiotic effects in human UC. Preliminary Efficacy Signals: A Phase IIa design allows to observe preliminary clinical signal (stool consistency via the Bristol Stool Chart / Partial Mayo Score) before investing in large-scale multicenter Phase IIb/III randomized controlled trials.

Being tested
Low molecular weight fucoidan and standard care, Placebo and standard of care
Keywords
Fucoidan, Gastrointestinal microbiome, Ulcerative, Colitis, Turbinaria, Phaeophyta, Sulfated polysaccharides
Medical subject headings
Colitis, Ulcerative, Ulcer, Colitis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Low molecular weight fucoidan and standard careDietary supplement

    LMWF + 5-ASA Arm Oral administration of 85% purified, dehydrogenated low-molecular-weight fucoidan (<40 kDa) at a weight-based dose (35 mg/kg/day for active flare) as an adjuvant to standard-of-care 5-aminosalicylate therapy.

  • Placebo and standard of careOther

    placebo and 5 Aminosalicylic acid

Study groups in NCT07786389
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
5aminosalicilyic acid plus low molecular weight fucoidanActive comparatorLMWF + 5-ASA Arm Oral administration of 85% purified, dehydrogenated low-molecular-weight fucoidan (<40 kDa) at a weight-based dose (35 mg/kg/day for active flare) as an adjuvant to standard-of-care 5-aminosalicylate therapy
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Low molecular weight fucoidan and standard care
Arm Name: Control Placebo + 5-ASA Identical matching placebo capsulePlacebo comparatorPlacebo + 5-ASA Identical matching placebo capsule manufactured to mirror the active Low-Molecular-Weight Fucoidan (LMWF) extract capsule in size, shape, color, weight, texture, and odor as 1 capsule three times daily with meals + conventional Ulcerative Colitis therapy using 5-aminosalycilates.
Receives: Other: Placebo and standard of care

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in intestinal inflammation

    1.Change in intestinal inflammation measured through Quantitative ELISA assay of fecal calprotectin. Mean difference in fecal calprotectin concentration between the Turbinaria ornata fucoidan + standard therapy group and the placebo + standard therapy group, evaluated for a statistically significant reduction toward mucosal healing. [baseline and wk 12]

    Measured: [baseline and week 12]

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted26 Aug 2026
  2. Study startAug 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completionJun 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completionDec 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1/2
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Intervention(s) planned: Arm Name: Active : Marine Polysaccharide Supplement(Low Molecular Weight Fucoidan capsules )+ 5-ASA Arm Oral administration of 85% purified, dehydrogenated low-molecular-weight fucoidan (\<40 kDa) at a weight-based dose (35 mg/kg/day for active flare) as an adjuvant to standard-of-care 5-aminosalicylate therapy. Arm Name: Control Placebo + 5-ASA Identical matching placebo capsule manufactured to mirror the active Low-Molecular-Weight Fucoidan (LMWF) extract capsule in size, shape, color, weight, texture, and odor as 1 capsule three times daily with meals + conventional Ulcerative Colitis therapy using 5-aminosalycilates.
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Participant
Enrolment
90 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07786389
Sponsor's protocol ID
UTN: U1111-1344-9347
Other IDs
UTN: U1111-1344-9347, TERC/EXT/2025/547
Acronym
SEA-GUT
Status last verified
Jan 2026
First submitted
15 Aug 2026
Last updated
26 Aug 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: De-identify all raw files to protect participant confidentiality before releasing any records.

Publications

  • Abe, S., Hiramatsu, K., Ichikawa, O., Kawamoto, H., Kasagi, T., Miki, Y., . . . Ikeda, T. (2013). Safety evaluation of excessive ingestion of mozuku fucoidan in human. J Food Sci, 78(4), T648-T651. Abeshu, Y., Abrha, E. J. W. J. o. F. S., & Technology. (2017). Evaluation of Proximate and Mineral Composition Profile for Different Food Barley Varieties Grown in Central High lands of Ethiopia. 1(3), 97-100. Ali, U., Jahangir Anjum, S. A., Erum, H., Hamid, S., & Mir, N. A. (2023). Demographic Profile and Extra Intestinal Manifestations of Ulcerative Colitis in Pakistani population. Pakistan Journal of Medical & Health Sciences, 17(01), 559-559. Aniwan, S., Limsrivilai, J., Pongprasobchai, S., Pausawasdi, N., Prueksapanich, P., Kongtub, N., & Rerknimitr, R. (2021). Temporal trend in the natural history of ulcerative colitis in a country with a low incidence of ulcerative colitis from 2000 through 2018. Intest Res, 19(2), 186-193. Atashrazm, F., Lowenthal, R. M., Woods, G. M., Holloway, A. F., & Dickinson, J. L. (2015). Fucoidan and cancer: A multifunctional molecule with anti-tumor potential. Marine Drugs, 13(4), 2327-2346.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1/2 study of Ulcerative Colitis (UC), run by Allama Iqbal Medical College at 1 site in Pakistan.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 11 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this combined phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in intestinal inflammation (time frame: [baseline and week 12]). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07786389, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Aug 2026.

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