High-fat Diet Induced Dysbiosis & Amelioration by Astaxanthin

Abstract

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid that is present in high quantities in the meat of fish like salmon and the shells of shrimp and crab. It exhibits free radical scavenging antioxidant activity when consumed dietarily. Astaxanthin is absorbed by the small intestine before exerting its antioxidant effect; however, a portion of dietary intake remains unabsorbed in the digestive tract and reaches the large intestines. We hypothesized that astaxanthin may exert its antioxidant action in the large intestine to influence the gut microbiota. In this review we introduce the results of two studies of astaxanthin. Firstly, a clinical trial targeting post-menopausal women screened for high oxidative stress burden. Astaxanthin was administered orally for eight weeks in order to examine its effects and safety, and subjects were surveyed for any changes in subjective symptoms. Secondly, in a mouse model, real time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) was used to examine the ability of astaxanthin to prevent changes in the enteric flora induced by a high-fat diet. When fat intake increases due to changes in diet, the equilibrium between the various species that constitute the intestinal flora is altered. As a result, degenerative changes in lifestyle-related disease and aging of the host are promoted. Here we find that the intake of astaxanthin was able to inhibit these changes in the gut microbiota of mice induced by a high-fat diet. Even in humans, it is highly probably that the unabsorbed astaxanthin that remains in the intestinal tract exerts a positive effect against disturbance of the intestinal flora caused by a high-fat diet.

Effects of Herring Milt Hydrolysates and Fractions in a Diet-Induced Obesity Model

“…Moreover, this increase is not observable in the group supplemented with HMH2, which is the same supplement as HMH3 without astaxanthin. Although some in vivo studies have looked at the effect of astaxanthin on certain genera of Actinobacteria , such as Bifidobacteria , to date no work has yet shown that astaxanthin has a pre-biotic effect on this phylum or many of its genres [ 44 ].…”

Effect of Adding Annatto Seed Powder (Bixa orellana) and Astaxanthin to the Diet in the Productive Performance of Broilers(Ross-308)

“…While astaxanthin is one of the fatsoluble components, its increased rate of absorption is attributable to the fact that it is more polar than the other carotenoids. I'm not the only one who thinks so; research suggests that astaxanthin helps the body digest food and absorb more nutrients by raising the number of helpful microorganisms [29,30].…”

Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Inhibiting Activity of Advanced Glycation Endproduct Crosslink Breaking and Glycation Inhibiting Compounds

“…Astaxanthin has also been found to exert anti-glycation effects [ 36 , 37 ]. Previous work in the lab has examined the effects of dietary astaxanthin intake in both animal and human models; astaxanthin was found to ameliorate high fat diet induced gut dysbiosis in mice, and improved reported gastro-intestinal symptoms in human participants [ 38 ].…”