Astaxanthin alleviates altered hepatic lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in animals fed a high-sucrose diet.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of an Astaxanthin (ASTX)- rich extract-a powerful antioxidant-obtained from freshwater crustaceans (Dilocarcinus pagei crabs) on liver disturbed lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in rats fed a high-sucrose diet (HSD).

METHODS

Male Wistar rats were fed for 13 weeks with either: 1-a standard commercial rodent diet (RD), 2-a HSD, 3-a RD plus ASTX, or 4-a HSD plus ASTX. The rats were given orally either ASTX (10 mg/kg body weight/day in sunflower oil) or only the vehicle.

RESULTS

ASTX supplementation attenuated liver injury, as reflected by a reduction in steatosis severity and hepatic triglyceride accumulation. This effect appears to be primarily achieved by promoting mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation, as suggested by increased hepatic carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) activity, without significantly affecting lipogenesis. In addition, ASTX improved intracellular redox status by preventing the increase in hepatic reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and by promoting a significant increase in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST). ASTX was also able to restore altered GSH levels. Furthermore, ASTX induced an up-regulation of Nrf2 and a down-regulation of p-NFκB p65 protein expression, key transcription factors that govern cellular responses under pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory conditions.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that ASTX obtained from the freshwater crustacean D. pagei exerts beneficial effects against altered hepatic lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in HSD-fed rats, positioning this species as a promising novel source of ASTX for functional nutrition strategies.