Abstract
Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring red carotenoid pigment classified as a xanthophyll, found in microalgae and seafood such as salmon, trout, and shrimp. This review focuses on astaxanthin as a bioactive compound and outlines the evidence associated with its potential role in the prevention of atherosclerosis. Astaxanthin has a unique molecular structure that is responsible for its powerful antioxidant activities by quenching singlet oxygen and scavenging free radicals. Astaxanthin has been reported to inhibit low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and to increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and adiponectin levels in clinical studies. Accumulating evidence suggests that astaxanthin could exert preventive actions against atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) via its potential to improve oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid metabolism, and glucose metabolism. In addition to identifying mechanisms of astaxanthin bioactivity by basic research, much more epidemiological and clinical evidence linking reduced CVD risk with dietary astaxanthin intake is needed.
Highlights
Astaxanthin (3,31 -dihydroxy-β,β1 -carotene-4,41 -dione), a red carotenoid pigment classified as a xanthophyll, is known to have a powerful antioxidant ability
Accumulating evidence suggests that astaxanthin could exert cardioprotective actions by improving oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid metabolism, and glucose metabolism
Tripathi et al demonstrated that astaxanthin treatment attenuated cyclophosphamide-induced oxidative stress, DNA damage, and cell death in rat hepatocytes through an Nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway [22]
Summary
Astaxanthin (3,31 -dihydroxy-β,β1 -carotene-4,41 -dione), a red carotenoid pigment classified as a xanthophyll, is known to have a powerful antioxidant ability. Oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in the development of atherosclerotic diseases, and much attention has been paid to antioxidant foods as potential agents for preventing or treating these diseases. Astaxanthin is one of the promising agents in the prevention of oxidative stress-related diseases, and both the basic and clinical research on the health benefits of astaxanthin has quickly developed over the past few years. The coexistence of dyslipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance, and hypertension with accumulated visceral fat has been termed metabolic syndrome, which increases synergistically the risk of CVD. Metabolic syndrome is often characterized by oxidative stress, a disturbance in the balance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defenses. Accumulating evidence suggests that astaxanthin could exert cardioprotective actions by improving oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid metabolism, and glucose metabolism.
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