title: Astaxanthin supplementation delays physical exhaustion and prevents redox imbalances in plasma and soleus muscles of Wistar rats.
abstract: Astaxanthin (ASTA) is a pinkish-orange carotenoid commonly found in marine organisms, especially salmon. ASTA is a powerful antioxidant and suggested to provide benefits for human health, including the inhibition of LDL oxidation, UV-photoprotection, and prophylaxis of bacterial stomach ulcers. Exercise is associated to overproduction of free radicals in muscles and plasma, with pivotal participation of iron ions and glutathione (GSH). Thus, ASTA was studied here as an auxiliary supplement to improve antioxidant defenses in soleus muscles and plasma against oxidative damage induced by exhaustive exercise. Long-term 1 mg ASTA/kg body weight (BW) supplementation in Wistar rats (for 45 days) significantly delayed time to exhaustion by 29% in a swimming test. ASTA supplementation increased scavenging/iron-chelating capacities (TEAC/FRAP) and limited exercise-induced iron overload and its related pro-oxidant effects in plasma of exercising animals. On the other hand, ASTA induced significant mitochondrial Mn-dependent superoxide dismutase and cytosolic glutathione peroxidase antioxidant responses in soleus muscles that, in turn, increased GSH content during exercise, limited oxidative stress, and delayed exhaustion. We also provided significant discussion about a putative "mitochondrial-targeted" action of ASTA based on previous publications and on the positive results found in the highly mitochondrial populated (oxidative-type) soleus muscles here.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (ICAFE), Cruzeiro do Sul University, 01506-000 Sao Paulo, Brazil. tatianapolotow@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Tatiana G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Polotow
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (ICAFE), Cruzeiro do Sul University, 01506-000 Sao Paulo, Brazil. crisvardaris@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cristina V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Vardaris
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (ICAFE), Cruzeiro do Sul University, 01506-000 Sao Paulo, Brazil. andreamihaliuc@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Andrea R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Mihaliuc
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (ICAFE), Cruzeiro do Sul University, 01506-000 Sao Paulo, Brazil. masg_je@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Marina S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education and Sports (EEFE), University of Sao Paulo (USP), 05508-900 Sao Paulo, Brazil. benepe@usp.br.
authors.forename: Benedito
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (ICAFE), Cruzeiro do Sul University, 01506-000 Sao Paulo, Brazil. douganini@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ganini
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (ICAFE), Cruzeiro do Sul University, 01506-000 Sao Paulo, Brazil. marcelo.barros@cruzeirodosul.edu.br.
authors.forename: Marcelo P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Barros
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005221:Fatigue / Q000097:blood*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006454:Hemoglobins; D014280:Triglycerides; D024341:Xanthophylls; D014527:Uric Acid; C005948:astaxanthine; D002784:Cholesterol; D007501:Iron; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione