Antioxidant effect of astaxanthin on phospholipid peroxidation in human erythrocytes

• Published in: British journal of nutrition Vol. 105; no. 11; pp. 1563 - 1571
• Main Authors: Nakagawa, Kiyotaka, Kiko, Takehiro, Miyazawa, Taiki, Carpentero Burdeos, Gregor, Kimura, Fumiko, Satoh, Akira, Miyazawa, Teruo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 14.06.2011; CABI Pub
• Subjects: Aged; antioxidant activity; Antioxidants; astaxanthin; Biological and medical sciences; blood; Carotenoids; chemistry; Chlorophyta; Chlorophyta - chemistry; Clinical trials; Dementia; Dementia disorders; Double-Blind Method; drug effects; Erythrocytes; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Erythrocytes - metabolism; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; hydroperoxides; Male; metabolism; Middle Aged; middle-aged adults; Molecular Nutrition; Oxidation-Reduction; patients; Peroxidation; pharmacology; phospholipids; Phospholipids - metabolism; Plant Oils; Plant Oils - chemistry; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; xanthophylls; Xanthophylls - blood; Xanthophylls - chemistry; Xanthophylls - pharmacology; Phospholipid hydroperoxides; Astaxanthin; Erythrocytes; Dementia; Human; Red blood cell; Phospholipid; Hydroperoxide; Antioxidant; Blood cell; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Degenerative disease; Peroxidation
• ISSN: 0007-1145; 1475-2662; 1475-2662
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007114510005398

Phospholipid hydroperoxides (PLOOH) accumulate abnormally in the erythrocytes of dementia patients, and dietary xanthophylls (polar carotenoids such as astaxanthin) are hypothesised to prevent the accumulation. In the present study, we conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial to assess the efficacy of 12-week astaxanthin supplementation (6 or 12 mg/d) on both astaxanthin and PLOOH levels in the erythrocytes of thirty middle-aged and senior subjects. After 12 weeks of treatment, erythrocyte astaxanthin concentrations were higher in both the 6 and 12 mg astaxanthin groups than in the placebo group. In contrast, erythrocyte PLOOH concentrations were lower in the astaxanthin groups than in the placebo group. In the plasma, somewhat lower PLOOH levels were found after astaxanthin treatment. These results suggest that astaxanthin supplementation results in improved erythrocyte antioxidant status and decreased PLOOH levels, which may contribute to the prevention of dementia.