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Sea cucumber is a soft-bodied marine animal, a relative of sea stars and sea urchins, that is eaten as a delicacy in many Asian and Pacific cuisines and sold as dried pieces, powders and capsules. USDA data show it is mostly water and protein with very little fat. Supplement marketing often promises joint, skin or immune benefits, but Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) notes that studies in humans are lacking, and most published work is in cells and animals. Its sugars can thin the blood in lab tests, which is why people on blood thinners and people with seafood allergies need extra care.
Peptide Labs does not sell sea cucumber products, and none of the supplements in our store lists it on the label. This article is general information, not medical advice.
Key Takeaways
- Sea cucumbers are echinoderms, related to sea stars and sea urchins, not vegetables or fish.
- The one USDA entry shows 13 grams of protein and under half a gram of fat per 100 grams.
- Lab studies of sea cucumber compounds are plentiful; controlled human trials of supplements are not.
- MSK warns that sea cucumber polysaccharides may add to the effect of anticoagulants.
- People allergic to seafood should avoid it unless an allergist says otherwise.
- Some species are overfished, and three teatfish species have needed CITES export permits since 2020.
What is a sea cucumber?
Despite the name, a sea cucumber is an animal. Sea cucumbers belong to the echinoderms, the same group as sea stars and sea urchins, and they live on the sea floor. The body wall is the part people eat. In trade it is often called beche-de-mer or trepang, and in Chinese cooking hai shen.
MSK describes sea cucumber as an ingredient that is dried and used in soups and other dishes, and lists its traditional Chinese medicine uses for longevity, impotence, joint pain and frequent urination. Those are traditional uses, not findings from clinical trials.
Sea cucumber nutrition
USDA FoodData Central has a single sea cucumber entry, a traditional Alaska Native food called yane (FDC 167618). The values below are per 100 grams of that food. Other species, and especially dried sea cucumber, will differ, because drying removes most of the water and concentrates everything else. The percent Daily Value (%DV) uses the FDA Daily Values printed on Nutrition Facts labels.
| Nutrient (sea cucumber, yane) | Per 100 g | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 56 | Not applicable |
| Protein | 13 g | 26% |
| Total fat | 0.4 g | 1% |
| Riboflavin (vitamin B2) | 0.94 milligrams | 72% |
| Niacin (vitamin B3) | 3.2 milligrams | 20% |
| Thiamin (vitamin B1) | 0.05 milligrams | 4% |
| Calcium | 30 milligrams | 2% |
| Iron | 0.6 milligrams | 3% |
In short, sea cucumber nutrition looks like that of a very lean seafood: a good amount of protein for few calories, almost no fat and a notable amount of riboflavin in this sample. If protein is your goal, our list of protein-rich foods covers everyday options with far more complete nutrition data.
Sea cucumber benefits: what the research shows
Search results promise many sea cucumber benefits, from joint comfort to anti-aging. The research behind those claims is mostly preclinical, meaning it was done in test tubes, cell cultures or animals. A 2022 review in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry summarized studies of sea cucumber peptides and described antioxidant, blood pressure, immune and other activities, but noted that these come from animal and lab work and that safety and mechanisms still need study in people.
| Claim or compound | Type of evidence | What it means for people |
|---|---|---|
| Peptides from body wall protein | Lab and animal studies | No proven benefit in human trials |
| Fucosylated chondroitin sulfate | Lab clotting studies | Possible blood-thinning effect, a safety issue |
| Triterpene glycosides (saponins) | Cell culture studies | Not tested as a supplement in people |
| Joint pain (traditional use) | Traditional use only | MSK: clinical data are lacking |
| High protein, low fat | USDA composition data | A lean seafood, not a tested health product |
- Unique sugars. Sea cucumbers contain a rare sulfated sugar chain called fucosylated chondroitin sulfate, a branched relative of the chondroitin sold in joint supplements. A 2024 lab study of a version from the North Atlantic species Cucumaria frondosa explored it as a possible anticoagulant that acts on a clotting factor. That is drug research, and it is the reason for the bleeding caution below.
- Saponins. Sea cucumbers make triterpene glycosides as a chemical defense. Recent studies tested purified versions on human cancer cell lines in the lab. Cell studies do not show that eating sea cucumber or taking a capsule has any effect on cancer, and MSK states that this has not been studied in humans.
- Human trials. When we searched the medical literature in October 2026 for randomized or placebo-controlled human trials of a sea cucumber supplement, we found cell and animal studies, not controlled trials in people.
That does not make sea cucumber a bad food. It means that any sea cucumber supplement promising a specific health effect is ahead of the evidence. Collagen supplements have more human research; see our guide to collagen peptides for what those studies found, and our glucosamine guide for the joint supplement research that does exist.
Sea cucumber supplement safety
A sea cucumber supplement is usually dried, ground body wall in a capsule, sometimes combined with other ingredients. The main safety points come from MSK and from basic food allergy rules.
- Blood thinners. MSK says the polysaccharides in sea cucumber may increase the effects of anticoagulants and raise the risk of bleeding, and advises against taking it with them. The same logic applies before surgery. Our nattokinase guide covers a similar bleeding question with another supplement.
- Seafood allergy. MSK advises people allergic to seafood not to take it. Sea cucumbers are not fish or crustacean shellfish, so they are outside the nine major food allergens that FDA requires labels to name. FDA notes that more than 160 foods have been reported to cause allergic reactions, so a missing allergen statement does not mean a food is safe for you.
- Processing exposure. MSK reports three occupational cases of skin, breathing and eye irritation in people handling sea cucumbers during processing.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding. There is no safety research on sea cucumber supplements in pregnancy; ask your clinician.
- Quality. Supplements are not approved by FDA before they are sold. Look for independent testing; our third-party testing guide explains the seals.
Eating sea cucumber
Eating sea cucumber is the traditional way to enjoy it. Dried sea cucumber is usually soaked and simmered until soft before it goes into braises, soups and hot pots, where it takes on the flavor of the sauce. Fresh or frozen sea cucumber is also sold in some markets and served raw in parts of East Asia. As with any seafood, choose a reputable seller and keep it cold.
Sustainability matters here. Some tropical species have been heavily fished for the dried seafood trade. In 2019 the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) listed three teatfish species in Appendix II, and since August 28, 2020 their international trade has required export permits and a finding that trade will not harm wild populations. If you eat sea cucumber, ask where it came from.
Who should talk to a clinician first
Talk to your clinician or pharmacist before trying a sea cucumber supplement if you take a blood thinner or antiplatelet medicine, have a bleeding disorder or upcoming surgery, have any seafood allergy, or are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are curious about other marine products, our guides to sea moss and krill oil vs fish oil cover their evidence, and our sibling guide to white mulberry covers a plant supplement with more human data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sea cucumber?
A sea cucumber is a marine animal related to sea stars and sea urchins. Its body wall is eaten as seafood and dried for soups, powders and capsules.
What are the proven sea cucumber benefits?
As a food it is high in protein and very low in fat. Claims about joints, immunity or cancer rest on lab and animal studies, and MSK says human studies are lacking.
Is a sea cucumber supplement safe with blood thinners?
MSK advises against it, because sea cucumber polysaccharides may increase the effect of anticoagulants and raise bleeding risk. Ask your prescriber.
Can I eat sea cucumber if I have a shellfish allergy?
MSK advises people with seafood allergies to avoid it. Ask an allergist before trying it.
What does sea cucumber nutrition look like?
The USDA entry lists 56 calories, 13 grams of protein and 0.4 grams of fat per 100 grams, plus a large share of the Daily Value for riboflavin.
Is eating sea cucumber sustainable?
It depends on the species and source. Some species are overfished, and three teatfish species need CITES export permits.
Questions about a label? Contact us or read our Buyer’s Guide. Follow the label and ask a healthcare provider before starting a supplement, especially if you take medicines, are pregnant or have a food allergy. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Last reviewed October 2026.
Related guides: Glucosamine: What Studies Show, Glucosamine Chondroitin and Side Effects, Chondroitin: What the Research Shows, Side Effects and Label Checks, Omega-3: Benefits, Foods, Side Effects and Heart Research.