Marine nutraceuticals and their role in modulating diabetes-induced carcinogenesis

Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of several malignancies, driven by shared pathophysiological mechanisms including chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and dysregulated growth factor signaling. This study adopts a narrative and mechanistic review design, synthesizing evidence from preclinical and selected clinical studies to examine how marine-derived nutraceutical compounds potentially modulate molecular pathways implicated in diabetes-induced carcinogenesis. The review focuses on key bioactive classes, including marine polysaccharides (e.g., fucoidan and alginate), omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid), polyphenols (fucoxanthin and phlorotannins), and marine peptides. Across experimental models, these compounds have been consistently associated with reduced markers of oxidative stress, suppression of pro-inflammatory mediators (e.g., NF-κB and IL-6), and modulation of insulin-related pathways such as IGF-1/ PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling. Reported effects include reductions in reactive oxygen species levels, downregulation of inflammatory cytokine expression, and improved metabolic biomarkers in in vitro and animal models. However, the evidence remains largely preclinical, with substantial heterogeneity in compound composition, dosing, and bioavailability across studies. Consequently, direct clinical efficacy cannot be inferred. Key limitations include reliance on experimental models, limited quantitative comparability across studies, and translational barriers related to standardization, pharmacokinetics, and long-term safety. Overall, this review provides a mechanistic framework that may inform future translational and clinical investigations, while underscoring the need for rigorously designed human studies.