The efficacy and safety of Laminaria japonica for metabolic syndrome: A protocol for a systematic review

Metabolic syndrome is a pathologic condition characterized by abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. The conventional treatments for metabolic syndrome have limitations for their non-selectivity, drug resistance, and low bioavailability. The brown seaweed, Laminaria japonica (LJP), is a traditional medicine and food in Aisa, and have shown pharmacological and biochemical abilities for the prevention and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases. We will systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and in vivo preclinical studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of LJP as useful treatment for metabolic syndrome.