Antioxidants such as astaxanthin helps to prevent or ameliorate diabetes and its subsequent complications.
Diabetes mellitus (DM), the most common metabolic disease, has become a major health concern with increasing prevalence worldwide. DM is a chronic disease that is recognized by hyperglycemia (HG) resulting from impaired insulin secretion, inappropriate insulin action, or both. The insulin deficit leads to high levels of blood glucose (HG), which, if not tightly controlled, leads to disabling and life-threatening health complications including cardiovascular diseases, retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, and prolonged/incomplete wound healing [78].
The development of DM and its complications are known to be associated with oxidative stress (OS) and low-grade chronic inflammation. OS, an imbalance between cellular oxidant and antioxidant systems, results from the overproduction of free radicals and associated reactive oxygen species (ROS). HG upregulates the markers of chronic inflammation and contributes to increased ROS generation, which ultimately involves DM complications including vascular dysfunction [79]. Moreover, an increased level of ROS reduces insulin secretion and impairs insulin sensitivity and signalling in insulin-responsive tissues [80]. Proper treatment of HG and inhibition of ROS overproduction is, therefore, crucial for delaying the DM onset and progression as well as for preventing its subsequent complications [81-83].
Recent advances in biological properties of antioxidants such as carotenoids have suggested that these compounds are not only able to prevent but also able to ameliorate diabetes and its subsequent complications [84].
Substation studies focused on astaxanthin fighting diabetes:
Masaharu Urakaze et al. (2021). “The Beneficial Effects of Astaxanthin on Glucose Metabolism and Modified Low-Density Lipoprotein in Healthy Volunteers and Subjects with Prediabetes.” Nutrients. 2021 Dec 7;13(12):4381.
“Astaxanthin (ASTX) is an antioxidant agent. Recently, its use has been focused on the prevention of diabetes and atherosclerosis. We examined the effects of astaxanthin supplementation for 12 weeks on glucose metabolism, glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, lipid profiles and anthropometric indices in healthy volunteers including subjects with prediabetes with a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Methods: We enrolled 53 subjects who met our inclusion criteria and administered them with 12 mg astaxanthin or a placebo once daily for 12 weeks. Subsequently, their HbA1c levels, lipid profiles and biochemical parameters were determined. The participants also underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), vascular endothelial function test and measurement of the visceral fat area. Results: After astaxanthin supplementation for 12 weeks, glucose levels after 120 min in a 75 g OGTT significantly decreased compared to those before supplementation. Furthermore, the levels of HbA1c (5.64 ± 0.33 vs. 5.57 ± 0.39%, p < 0.05), apo E (4.43 ± 1.29 vs. 4.13 ± 1.24 mg/dL, p < 0.05) and malondialdehydemodified low-density lipoprotein (87.3 ± 28.6 vs. 76.3 ± 24.6 U/L, p < 0.05) were also reduced, whereas total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein-C (HDL-C) levels were unaltered. The Matuda index, which is one of the parameters of insulin resistance, was improved in the ASTX group compared to that before supplementation. Conclusions: our results suggest that ASTX may have preventive effects against diabetes and atherosclerosis and may be a novel complementary treatment option for the prevention of diabetes in healthy volunteers, including subjects with prediabetes, without adverse effects.”
Nafiseh Shokri-Mashhadi et al. (2021). “The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects ofastaxanthin supplementation on the expression of miR-146a and miR-126 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.” Int J Clin Pract. 2021 May;75(5):e14022.
“The pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with chronic oxidative stress and inflammation. It is well known that the expression of some miRNAs such as miRNA-146a is upregulated in diabetic and hyperglycaemic patients, whereas circulating miRNA-126 is reduced. Therefore, we aimed to determine the effects of astaxanthin (AST) supplementation on the circulating malondialdehyde (MDA) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels, and the expression of miR-146a and miR-126 in patients with T2DM. Methods: This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 44 patients with T2DM randomly receiving 8 mg/d of oral AST (n = 22) or placebo (n = 22) for 8 weeks. Results: We observed that AST supplementation could decrease plasma levels of MDA and IL-6 (P < .05) and decrease the expression level of miR-146a over time (fold change: -1/388) (P < .05). Conclusion: AST supplementation might be beneficial for improving circulating MDA and IL-6 and the down-regulation of miR-146a. However, future investigations are suggested to confirm these results.”
Nafiseh Sokri Mashhadi et al. (2018). “Astaxanthin improves glucose metabolism and reduces blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.” Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2018;27(2):341-346.
“This randomized, placebo-controlled trial was performed for 8 weeks to investigate the potential effects of astaxanthin (AST) supplementation on the adiponectin concentration, lipid peroxidation, glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and anthropometric indices in participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods and study design: We enrolled 44 participants with type 2 diabetes who met our inclusion criteria. Eight milligrams of AST supplementation or a placebo were randomly administered once daily for 8 weeks to these participants. Results:The 8-week administration of AST supplementation increased the serum adiponectin concentration and reduced visceral body fat mass (p<0.01), serum triglyceride and very-lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, and systolic blood pressure (p<0.05). Furthermore, AST significantly reduced the fructosamine concentration (p<0.05) and marginally reduced the plasma glucose concentration (p=0.057). Conclusions: We demonstrated that because participants with type 2 diabetes often have hypertriglycemia and uncontrolled glucose metabolism; our findings of dual beneficial effects are clinically valuable. Our results may provide a novel complementary treatment with potential impacts on diabetic complications without adverse effects.”
Supporting studies on astaxanthin benefits on fighting diabetes:
The current work indicated that astaxanthin supplementation may be beneficial for improving oxidative stress and certain inflammation biomarkers, particularly in T2DM patients.
Systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that astaxanthin consumption was associated with increase in HDL-C (“good cholesterol” – ed.note) and decrease in CRP (blood test that checks for inflammation in the body – ed.note).
Bibliography
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79. Newsholme P., Cruzat V.F., Keane K.N., Carlessi R., de Bittencourt P.I.H. (2016). “Molecular mechanisms of ROS production and oxidative stress in diabetes.” Biochem. J. 2016;473:4527–4550.
80. Luc K., Schramm-Luc A., Guzik T.J., Mikolajcyk T.P., Sangiovanni E., Martinelli G., Bossi L., Carpentier- Maguire E., Tchamgoue A.D., Agbor G., et al. (2019). “Oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in prediabetes and diabetes.” J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 2019;70.
81. Rebecca Landon et al. (2020). “Impact of Astaxanthin on Diabetes Pathogenesis and Chronic Complications”. Mar Drugs. 2020 Jul; 18(7): 357.
82. Newsholme P., Cruzat V.F., Keane K.N., Carlessi R., de Bittencourt P.I.H.(2016). “Molecular mechanisms of ROS production and oxidative stress in diabetes.” Biochem. J. 2016;473:4527–4550.
83. Luc K., Schramm-Luc A., Guzik T.J., Mikolajcyk T.P., Sangiovanni E., Martinelli G., Bossi L., Carpentier- Maguire E., Tchamgoue A.D., Agbor G., et al. (2019). “Oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in prediabetes and diabetes.” J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 2019;70.
84. Roohbakhsh A., Karimi G., Iranshahi M. (2017). “Carotenoids in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications: A mechanistic review.” Biomed. Pharmacother. 2017;91:31–42.
