Abstract

The global rise of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), collectively referred to as diabesity, represents 
one of the most pressing health challenges of the twenty-first century. These intertwined metabolic disorders 
share common pathophysiological features, including insulin resistance, chronic low-grade inflammation, 
oxidative stress, and dysregulation of lipid metabolism. While lifestyle modification and pharmacotherapy 
remain central to management, their limitations underscore the need for alternative and complementary 
therapeutic strategies. Marine ecosystems, encompassing algae, sponges, fish, mollusks, and microorganisms, 
have emerged as a vast reservoir of structurally diverse bioactive compounds with promising anti-obesity and 
antidiabetic properties. Polysaccharides, peptides, polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols, alkaloids, and 
carotenoids derived from marine organisms exhibit multifaceted mechanisms, including modulation of glucose 
uptake, enhancement of insulin sensitivity, regulation of adipogenesis, and attenuation of oxidative and 
inflammatory pathways. This review synthesizes current evidence on marine-derived compounds in the 
prevention and management of diabesity, highlighting mechanistic insights, preclinical and clinical findings, as 
well as challenges in translation to clinical practice. Furthermore, future perspectives on bioprospecting, 
biotechnology-driven synthesis, and personalized nutrition approaches are discussed. Harnessing the 
therapeutic potential of marine bioresources could open new frontiers in combating diabesity and reducing its 
global burden. 
Keywords: Marine bioactive compounds, diabesity, insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus