title: Effect of astaxanthin supplementation on inflammation and cardiac function in BALB/c mice.
abstract: Astaxanthin is an antioxidant with immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. This study evaluated the use of dietary astaxanthin to decrease oxidative stress and improve cardiac function, thereby providing a potential cardioprotective supplement. Female BALB/c mice (8 weeks of age) were fed a semi-synthetic diet containing 0, 0.02 or 0.08% astaxanthin for 8 weeks. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography bi-weekly, and blood and tissue samples were collected at 8 weeks. Plasma astaxanthin concentrations increased (p<0.05) dose-dependently to 0.5 and 4 mumol/l in the astaxanthin-supplemented mice. Blood glutathione concentrations and lymphocyte mitochondrial membrane potential were not significantly affected by astaxanthin treatment. However, mice fed 0.08% astaxanthin had higher (p<0.05) heart mitochondrial membrane potential and contractility index compared to the control group. These results support the possible use of dietary astaxanthin for cardiac protection.
authors.affiliation: School of Food Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
authors.forename: Ruriko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: O Lynne
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Jean Soon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Bridget D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Mathison
authors.forename: Pam A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Boon P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Chew
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D019803:Glutathione Disulfide / Q000097:blood; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D024341:Xanthophylls; C005948:astaxanthine; D005978:Glutathione; D019803:Glutathione Disulfide