title: Effects of astaxanthin on antioxidation in human aqueous humor.
abstract: We evaluated the antioxidative effects of astaxanthin through the changes in superoxide scavenging activity, levels of hydrogen peroxide and total hydroperoxides in human aqueous humor. The study subjects were 35 patients who underwent bilateral cataract surgery on one side before and the other side after intake of astaxanthin (6 mg/day for 2 weeks). Their aqueous humor was taken during the surgery and subjected to measurements of the three parameters. After astaxanthin intake, the superoxide scavenging activity was significantly (p<0.05) elevated, while the level of total hydroperoxides was significantly (p<0.05) lowered. There was a significant negative correlation between the superoxide scavenging activity and the level of total hydroperoxides (r = -0.485, p<0.01), but no correlations between the hydrogen peroxide level and the other two parameters. Astaxanthin intake clearly enhanced the superoxide scavenging activity and suppressed the total hydroperoxides production in human aqueous humor, indicating the possibility that astaxanthin has suppressive effects on various oxidative stress-related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Tsukuba Hashimoto Optical Clinic, 530 Furuku, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0021, Japan ; Department of Ophthalmology, Koshigaya Hospital, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, 2-1-50 Minamikoshigaya, Koshigaya, Saitama 343-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotaka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Kiyomi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Shimmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chikuda
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Obara
keywords: aqueous humor; astaxanthin; hydrogen peroxide; oxidation; superoxide