Project Title:
Combined effects of programmed exercise and brown seaweed extract consumption on exercise capacity, cardiometabolic and gut health, and psychological predictors of exercise adherence
Project Partners:
Dr Steven Trangmar- Leeds Beckett University (PI)
Professor Adele Costabile – University of Roehampton (Co-I)
Dr Adam Bruton – Brunel University London (Co-I)
BioAtlantis Ltd (Industry Partner)
Research issue, problem, risk or opportunity being addressed:
Bioactive brown seaweed extracts have generated a massive amount of interest in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industry due to its high phytochemical content. There is emerging evidence of a positive benefit of these extracts on gut, metabolic and cardiovascular health, weight management, obesity prevention, and the metabolic consequences of obesity. This project aimed to link a multi-site university team with industry, to generate evidence on the application of a novel dietary intervention (Ascophyllum nodosum blend of seaweed extracts; BioAtlantis Ltd.), in combination with exercise training, on cardiorespiratory function, markers of inflammation, gut and metabolic health and psychological correlates of exercise adherence. The outcomes of the proposed project were intended to be used to further the commercial development of bioactive-based functional foods targeting a progressively unhealthier population, and serve as a platform to develop larger-scale research/bidding opportunities exploring the mechanisms underpinning any potential observable response in those engaging in programmed exercise.
The aim of the present project was to explore the combined effects of a novel blend of Ascophyllum nodosum extract supplementation, concurrent with an aerobic exercise programme, on exercise capacity, cardiometabolic and gut health, and psychological predictors of exercise adherence.
The specific objectives are to:
1) Assess the impact of brown seaweed extract, in combination with aerobic endurance training, on aerobic exercise capacity, subjective recovery from exercise training and cardiometabolic health;
2) Monitoring the impact of these extracts on inflammatory biomarkers across the exercise programme;
3) Understand the metabolic profile associated with the administration of these bioactive extracts alongside an aerobic exercise programme;
4) Assess the impact of this blend on psychological predictors of exercise adherence.
Project Achievements/Outputs:
Of the four project objectives, two were fully achieved: assessing the effects of brown seaweed extract combined with aerobic endurance training on exercise capacity, recovery, cardiometabolic health, and psychological predictors of exercise adherence. The remaining two objectives, relating to inflammatory biomarkers and metabolic profiling, are provisionally achieved pending a final decision on recruitment of the remaining five participants and completion of the final data set analysis, expected in early 2026.
Key achievements and outputs from the project include the creation of a post-doctoral research position for a local PhD graduate, who has since progressed to a further post-doctoral role within the university. A conference presentation is currently in preparation for The Nutrition Society Congress 2026, while publications will be determined following a final decision on participant recruitment. The funding also played a significant role in enabling further research success, including additional grant funding, new collaborations with industrial and academic partners, and the development of a Yorkshire Biosciences DTP project involving multiple institutions and industry connections. In addition, the experience gained through the project helped a colleague successfully secure funding through a BBSRC Hub.
For specific data outcomes, please see the linked project report (September 2025) presented to the industrial partner. 2025.09.26_INFORM_BA_Project status report
Challenges Faced:
The project faced two major challenges: legal delays and participant recruitment and retention. The collaboration agreement was significantly delayed, despite early project extensions and staff appointments, and was not fully executed until December 2024. However, with strong support from the industrial partner, ethical approval and intervention products were secured in advance, enabling recruitment to begin ahead of the finalised agreement and allowing the project timeline to be extended through summer 2025. This experience highlighted the importance of initiating legal processes earlier and engaging experienced collaborators to support smoother project delivery in future. Positively, the process has since established a local precedent that is already benefiting colleagues in subsequent funding applications.
Participant recruitment and retention also remained an ongoing challenge, as is common in human intervention trials. Despite this, the team worked consistently to maintain participant engagement, resulting in a relatively low drop-out rate of 14.3% (5 out of 35 recruited participants).
Advancing Science:
The project has an advanced understanding of how nutritional bioactives interact with structured exercise to influence human physiology, recovery, and exercise behaviour. By combining brown seaweed extract with an aerobic endurance‑training programme, the pilot work provides novel evidence that marine‑derived bioactives can modulate cardiometabolic risk factors and support subjective recovery from exercise and pleasure in exercise.
These findings extend current knowledge of functional foods and performance nutrition by demonstrating real‑world performance and recovery benefits in a training context, providing a potential adjunct to exercise for maintaining population healthspan.
Project Potential:
The next phase of the project will focus on completing recruitment and analysing the remaining inflammatory and metabolic datasets to support the development of a more integrated mechanistic model. The team plans to seek external funding for a larger multi-centre trial investigating dose–response relationships, long-term cardiometabolic outcomes, and personalised nutrition approaches combining bioactive supplementation with exercise training. The findings also have strong translational potential for the development of evidence-based functional nutrition products to support exercise performance, recovery, and adherence, with applications across sports science, public health, and wellness sectors. Ongoing discussions with existing and prospective industrial partners are helping to support future collaborative opportunities in this area.
MARCH 2026