Astaxanthin-Rich Algal Meal and Vitamin C Inhibit Helicobacter pylori Infection in BALB/cA Mice

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori infection in humans is associated with chronic type B gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric carcinoma. A high intake of carotenoids and vitamin C has been proposed to prevent development of gastric malignancies. The aim of this study was to explore if the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis rich in the carotenoid astaxanthin and vitamin C can inhibit experimental H. pylori infection in a BALB/cA mouse model. Six-week-old BALB/cA mice were infected with the mouse-passaged H. pylori strain 119/95. At 2 weeks postinoculation mice were treated orally once daily for 10 days (i) with different doses of algal meal rich in astaxanthin (0.4, 2, and 4 g/kg of body weight, with the astaxanthin content at 10, 50, and 100 mg/kg, respectively), (ii) with a control meal (algal meal without astaxanthin, 4 g/kg), or (iii) with vitamin C (400 mg/kg). Five mice from each group were sacrificed 1 day after the cessation of treatment, and the other five animals were sacrificed 10 days after the cessation of treatment. Culture of H. pylori and determination of the inflammation score of the gastric mucosae were used to determine the outcome of the treatment. Mice treated with astaxanthin-rich algal meal or vitamin C showed significantly lower colonization levels and lower inflammation scores than those of untreated or control-meal-treated animals at 1 day and 10 days after the cessation of treatment. Lipid peroxidation was significantly decreased in mice treated with the astaxanthin-rich algal meal and vitamin C compared with that of animals not treated or treated with the control meal. Both astaxanthin-rich algal meal and vitamin C showed an inhibitory effect on H. pylori growth in vitro. In conclusion, antioxidants may be a new strategy for treating H. pylori infection in humans.The human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori causes type B chronic gastritis and is associated with peptic ulcer disease as well as gastric cancer (7,9,38). Some epidemiological studies have shown the difference between the prevalence of H. pyloriassociated diseases and intake of certain vitamins and antioxidants in various populations (10,28,33) and that a high intake of vitamin C, ␣-tocopherol, or ␤-carotene in food reduces the risk of gastric carcinoma (2, 30). H. pylori infection in humans is characterized by a marked infiltration of neutrophilic leukocytes of the gastric mucosa, and the generation of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) may play a part in the development of severe chronic type B gastritis (15,26).Astaxanthin is a carotenoid found in many different organisms in nature, but the main dietary sources for humans are found in crustaceans and other seafood, especially salmon. Astaxanthin is a powerful lipid-soluble antioxidant in vitro (8,16,19) and was shown to be most effective in stimulating immune defenses when different carotenoids were compared (12,13,23). Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant required for many biological functions such as the normal synthesis of hormones, neurotransmitters, collagen, and carni...

Bioavailability of Astaxanthin inHaematococcusAlgal Extract: The Effects of Timing of Diet and Smoking Habits

“…A doctor's interview was conducted prior to blood sampling before (0) and 4,6,8,24,72, and 168 h after astaxanthin administration. All serum samples were prepared by centrifugation (4 C, 2,500 rpm, 5 min) from the blood quickly after sampling, and were stored in a freezer (À20 C) until analysis.…”

“…4) Due to their high antioxidant properties, many nutraceuticals containing astaxanthin have potent effects against many symptoms and are coming onto the market. Recently, further functionalities of astaxanthin in addition to its antioxidative ability have also been reported, including anti-cancer, 5,6) prevention of diabetic nephropathy, 7) prevention of H. pylori infection, 8) alleviation of eye fatigue, 9) and immunomodulating ability. 10,11) Absorption of xanthophylls is believed to occur as follows: After ingestion, xanthophylls mix with bile acid to make micelles in the intestinum tenue.…”

Essential Role of Vitamin C and Zinc in Child Immunity and Health

“…198 Vitamin C is not only an antioxidant and a free radical scavenger but it also shows antimicrobial activity both in vitro and in vivo, 192 and is able to inhibit H. pylori growth in vitro. 199,200 Several investigators 201,202 have…”

Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori infection by bovine milk glycoconjugates in a BALB/cA mouse model

“…Of the potential novel non-antibiotic treatment strategies, anti-adhesive compounds to inhibit tissue invasion by bacterial pathogens are promising candidates [13,14]. This group of investigators has previously standardised a mouse model for H. pylori infection [15±17] and recently reported that antioxidants such as astaxanthin and vitamin C inhibit H. pylori infection in this model [18]. The present study investigated whether bovine milk glycoproteins could inhibit an experimental H. pylori infection in a BALB=cA mouse model, to develop a possible anti-adhesion strategy in the future.…”