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Daily fatigue-reducing effect of astaxanthin - A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effects of astaxanthin on the sense of fatigue occurring in daily life and to investigate the relationship of the fatigue-reducing effect with the antioxidative potential. Method: A 12-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was conducted. After screening for eligibility, 39 subjects with fatigue were assigned to 2 groups. The astaxanthin group received 12 mg of astaxanthin and 20 mg of tocotrienol, while the control group received 20 mg of tocotrienol alone. All subjects took Uchida-Kraepelin performance tests as mental loading and cycled using a bicycle ergometer as physical loading in Weeks 0, 4 and 8. A visual analog scale (VAS) of perceived fatigue was performed before and after loading. In Weeks 0 and 8, a Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire was performed. The biological antioxidant potential (BAP) was measured with blood samples taken at the screening and in Week 12. Results: Thirty-eight subjects completed the study. Intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis revealed that the sense of fatigue after both physical and mental loading was significantly lower in the astaxanthin group than in the control group in Week 8. The change in Friendliness in POMS was significantly higher in the astaxanthin group than in the control group in Week 8. No significant differences were observed in the change rate in the BAP value in Week 12 between the astaxanthin group and control group. Conclusion: Astaxanthin reduced the daily sense of fatigue caused by both mental and physical loads. No increase in BAP was, however, observed in subjects receiving astaxanthin.
... The effect of the combination of 12 mg astaxanthin/day and 20 mg tocotrienol/day on daily fatigue was examined using the POMS questionnaire, and results showed that the astaxanthin group showed significant improvement in the Friendliness factor of POMS compared with the placebo group. (14) Moreover, astaxanthin and sesamin were provided to volunteers to evaluate the effect of the combination on mental fatigue, and the visual analogue scale of mental fatigue in people who took the combination decreased more significantly than that in people who took the placebo. (15) Hence, various functional foods have been investigated for their usefulness in reducing stress. ...
... In previous studies with astaxanthin, a dose of 12 mg astaxanthin/ day was administered to subjects for 8 weeks, and the Friendliness factor in POMS was observed to improve in the astaxanthin group. (14) Because the administration period of this study was 8 weeks, which is similar to that used in a previous study, we also used the same dosage of 12 mg astaxanthin/day in this investigation. All subjects were requested to ingest three jellies of their respective supplement preparations after breakfast and again after dinner for 8 weeks, for a total of six jellies (12 mg of astaxanthin or placebo) per day. ...
... Sample size. We estimated the sample size based on "F" of POMS 2 from the data presented by Hongo et al. (14) It was assumed that the mean difference would be 1.6, with a standard deviation (SD) of 4.4. To detect this difference, with a power of 80% and a significance level of 5% and taking into account that 10% of the patients will be lost to follow-up, it was calculated that 30 subjects would be needed to be studied in each group. ...
This study investigated the effect of a dietary supplement containing astaxanthin-rich extract derived from Paracoccus carotinifaciens (astaxanthin supplement) on the status of stress and sleep in individuals aged 20–64 years. Twenty-five subjects orally administered 12 mg astaxanthin/day of astaxanthin supplement for 8 weeks (astaxanthin group) and 29 subjects given a placebo (placebo group) were evaluated with Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition for stress and Oguri–Shirakawa–Azumi Sleep Inventory for Middle-aged and Aged version for sleep. We did not observe any significant intergroup differences in the stress and sleep. A subgroup analysis was performed after dividing the subjects into two groups: those who scored >65 and those who scored ≤65 in the ”Depression–Dejection” dimension of Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition. The sleep of subjects who scored >65 (”Depression–Dejection”) showed significant improvement in the astaxanthin group compared with the placebo group, whereas no significant improvement was observed in stress and the other subjects. Our results indicate that people who tend to be strongly depressed may experience improved sleep after ingesting astaxanthin supplement. On the basis of the parameters tested, administration of astaxanthin supplement was not associated with any problems related to safety. Clinical registration: This study has been registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network (https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000038619) on August 24, 2018 as ”A study to evaluate the effect of intake of astaxanthin on the status of stress and sleep in adults,” Identification No. UMIN000033863.
... Finally, AST's effects on cognition as part of a compound, for example, its effects when ingested alongside tocotrienol or sesamin, have also been explored. This area encompasses the effects of AST on indirectly associated factors, such as mental and physical fatigue [42,43]. Whilst AST has been suggested to be beneficial, it is important to review the research critically, as the finalised claims could have implications in the treatment of cognitive impairment/neurodegeneration as well as the enhancement of cognitive function. ...
... Elevated levels of both mental and physical fatigue have been negatively associated with various facets of cognitive function [80]. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study [42] researched the effects of supplementation with AST (12 mg·day −1 ) and tocotrienol (20 mg·day −1 ) against a control of just tocotrienol (20 mg·day −1 ). This study was conducted on a sample of 39 volunteers all suffering with fatigue induced by mental and physical challenge. ...
Oxidative stress is a key contributing factor in neurodegeneration, cognitive ageing, cognitive decline, and diminished cognitive longevity. Issues stemming from oxidative stress both in relation to cognition and other areas, such as inflammation, skin health, eye health, and general recovery, have been shown to benefit greatly from antioxidant use. Astaxanthin is a potent antioxidant, which has been outlined to be beneficial for cognitive function both in vitro and in vivo. Given the aforementioned promising effects, research into astaxanthin with a focus on cognitive function has recently been extended to human tissue and human populations. The present critical review explores the effects of astaxanthin on cognitive function and neurodegeneration within human populations and samples with the aim of deciphering the merit and credibility of the research findings and subsequently their potential as a basis for therapeutic use. Implications, limitations, and areas for future research development are also discussed. Key findings include the positive impacts of astaxanthin in relation to improving cognitive function, facilitating neuroprotection, and slowing neurodegeneration within given contexts.
... Zhang et al. (2007) reported that H. pluvialis AST-enriched powder also significantly improved memory in BALB/c mice. The effects of supplementation with natural AST on mental and physical fatigue have also been studied, reporting a reduction in the daily sense of fatigue caused by both mental and physical loads after this treatment Imai et al. 2018;Hongo et al. 2017 ...
Covers recent topics of algae from bionanopesticides to genetic engineering
Presents algal biotechnology, updated food processing techniques and Biochemistry of Haematococcus
Offers information on the less explored areas of in silico therapeutic and clinical applications
... Zhang et al. (2007) reported that H. pluvialis AST-enriched powder also significantly improved memory in BALB/c mice. The effects of supplementation with natural AST on mental and physical fatigue have also been studied, reporting a reduction in the daily sense of fatigue caused by both mental and physical loads after this treatment (Donoso et al. 2021;Imai et al. 2018;Hongo et al. 2017 ...
Haematococcus is a genus of green microalgae widely distributed in freshwater and seawater and well known for their ability to produce astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant with diverse applications. Eight species have been assigned to this genus based on a recent genetic classification and among them Haematococcus lacustris (previously named Haematococcus pluvialis) is the most studied. This species is regarded as the most promising microalgae for the production of natural astaxanthin. It is also known for its ability to synthesize other interesting bioactive compounds with a wide range of biological activities. The present work highlights the diverse therapeutic applications of Haematococcus bioactive molecules such as antioxidant, anti-inflammation, antimicrobial, skin protection, treatment and prevention of cancer, treatment of eye and neurodegenerative diseases, and immune stimulation.KeywordsAstaxanthinAntioxidantAnti-inflammationCancer preventionNeurodegenerative diseases
... According to the reports, astaxanthin consumption improved the cognitive function and made faster maze learning and reaction times in Cog-Health. Hongo (2017) also investigated the administration of 12 mg/day astaxanthin with 20 mg of tocotrienol for 12 weeks by 39 fatigued volunteers in a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. The authors reported that astaxanthin lowered the sense of fatigue in physical and mental loads. ...
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most devastating neurodegenerative disorder affecting the elderly. The exact pathology of AD is not yet fully understood and several hallmarks such as the deposition of amyloid-β, tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuroinflammation, as well as mitochondrial, metal ions, autophagy, and cholinergic dysfunctions are known as pathologic features of AD. Since no definitive treatment has been proposed to target AD to date, many natural products have shown promising preventive potentials and contributed to slowing down the disease progression. Algae is a promising source of novel bioactive substances known to prevent neurodegenerative disorders including AD. In this context, fucoxanthin and astaxanthin, natural carotenoids abundant in algae, has shown to possess neuroprotective properties through antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory characteristics in modulating the symptoms of AD. Fucoxanthin and astaxanthin exhibit anti-AD activities by inhibition of AChE, BuChE, BACE-1, and MAO, suppression of Aβ accumulation. Also, fucoxanthin and astaxanthin inhibit apoptosis induced by Aβ1-42 and H2O2-induced cytotoxicity, and increase the antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT), through inhibition of the ERK pathway. Moreover, cellular and animal studies on the beneficial effects of fucoxanthin and astaxanthin on AD were also reviewed. The potential role of fucoxanthin and astaxanthin exhibits great efficacy for the management of AD by acting on multiple targets.
... Using the Trier Social Stress Test, tasks that induce psychological stress were associated with an elevated systemic IL-6 level and a decrease of the POMS F score [74,75]. Moreover, a clinical study has shown that anti-inflammatory foods improve the scores for positive mood states (VA and F) [76,77]. C. longa was reported to have the potential to reduce the production of inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide and ameliorate anxiety-and sleep deprivation-induced behavior abnormalities in a stressed animal [78,79]. ...
To investigate the effect of a hot water extract of C. longa L. (WEC) containing anti-inflammatory agents, bisacurone, and turmeronol on chronic inflammation, a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study was conducted in middle-aged and elderly subjects aged 50–69 years with overweight or prehypertension/mild hypertension. The subjects consumed 900 mg WEC tablets, containing 400 μg bisacurone, 80 μg turmeronol A and 20 μg turmeronol B (WEC group: n = 45), or placebo tablets without WEC (placebo group: n = 45) daily for 12 weeks. Serum inflammatory and metabolic markers were measured. The subjects also completed the MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) and the Profile of Mood States scale (POMS). In the WEC group, the serum levels of C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 decreased significantly. Compared with the placebo group, the WEC group had significantly lower serum levels of glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and triglycerides, as well as higher serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The WEC group also showed significant improvement of SF-36 scores (for general health, vitality, mental health, and mental summary component) and POMS scores for positive mood states (vigor-activity and friendliness). In conclusion, WEC may ameliorate chronic low-grade inflammation, thus contributing to the improvement of associated metabolic disorders and general health.
... Several studies have tested the effects of astaxanthin or sesame lignan separately on fatigue. Hongo et al., reported that astaxanthin reduced daily fatigue stemming from mental and physical causes [17]. Takemoto et al., evaluated the effects of supplements including sesame lignans and vitamin E on subjective outcomes such as fatigue, sleep and physical appearance [18]. ...
Severe fatigue can negatively affect quality of life, and oxidative stress may play a role in its mechanism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of astaxanthin and sesamin (AS), strong food-derived antioxidants, on fatigue. Twenty-four healthy volunteers were supplemented with AS and placebo, each for four weeks. After each supplementation period, participants underwent tasks inducing mental and physical fatigue (visual display terminal task and ergometer task, respectively). Subjective fatigue was evaluated using a visual analogue scale during and after the mental and physical tasks, and daily subjective fatigue was evaluated by the Chalder fatigue questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included other subjective feelings, work efficiency, autonomic nerve activity, levels of an oxidative stress marker (plasma phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH)) and safety. AS supplementation was associated with significantly improved recovery from mental fatigue compared with placebo. Increased PCOOH levels during mental and physical tasks were attenuated by AS supplementation. No differences between AS and placebo were detected in secondary outcomes, and no adverse effects of AS supplementation were observed. In conclusion, AS supplementation may be a candidate to promote recovery from mental fatigue which is experienced by many healthy people.
Astaxanthin (AX), a lipid-soluble pigment belonging to the xanthophyll carotenoids family, has recently garnered significant attention due to its unique physical properties, biochemical attributes, and physiological effects. Originally recognized primarily for its role in imparting the characteristic red-pink color to various organisms, AX is currently experiencing a surge in interest and research. The growing body of literature in this field predominantly focuses on AXs distinctive bioactivities and properties. However, the potential of algae-derived AX as a solution to various global environmental and societal challenges that threaten life on our planet has not received extensive attention. Furthermore, the historical context and the role of AX in nature, as well as its significance in diverse cultures and traditional health practices, have not been comprehensively explored in previous works. This review article embarks on a comprehensive journey through the history leading up to the present, offering insights into the discovery of AX, its chemical and physical attributes, distribution in organisms, and biosynthesis. Additionally, it delves into the intricate realm of health benefits, biofunctional characteristics, and the current market status of AX. By encompassing these multifaceted aspects, this review aims to provide readers with a more profound understanding and a robust foundation for future scientific endeavors directed at addressing societal needs for sustainable nutritional and medicinal solutions. An updated summary of AXs health benefits, its present market status, and potential future applications are also included for a well-rounded perspective
Nowadays, there is an emergent interest in new trend-driven biomolecules to improve health and wellbeing, which has become an interesting and promising field, considering their high value and biological potential. Astaxanthin is one of these promising biomolecules, with impressive high market growth, especially in the pharmaceutical and food industries. This biomolecule, obtained from natural sources (i.e., microalgae), has been reported in the literature to have several beneficial health effects due to its biological properties. These benefits seem to be mainly associated with Astaxanthin's high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may act on several brain issues, thus attenuating symptoms. In this sense, several studies have demonstrated the impact of astaxanthin on a wide range of diseases, namely on brain disorders (such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson, depression, brain stroke and autism). Therefore, this review highlights its application in mental health and illness. Furthermore, a S.W.O.T. analysis was performed to display an approach from the market/commercial perspective. However, to bring the molecule to the market, there is still a need for more studies to increase deep knowledge regarding the real impact and mechanisms in the human brain.HIGHLIGHTSAstaxanthin has been mainly extracted from the algae Haematococcus pluvialisAstaxanthin, bioactive molecule with high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory propertiesAstaxanthin has an important protective effect on brain disordersAstaxanthin is highly marketable, mainly for food and pharmaceutical industries.
Astaxanthin is a member of the carotenoid family that is found abundantly in marine organisms, and has been gaining attention in recent years due to its varied biological/physiological activities. It has been reported that astaxanthin functions both as a pigment, and as an antioxidant with superior free radical quenching capacity. We recently reported that astaxanthin modulated mitochondrial functions by a novel mechanism independent of its antioxidant function. In this paper, we review astaxanthin’s well-known antioxidant activity, and expand on astaxanthin’s lesser-known molecular targets, and its role in mitochondrial energy metabolism.
Astaxanthin is a natural C40 carotenoid with numerous reported biological functions, most of them associated with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, standing out from other antioxidants as it has shown the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), 100-500 times higher than ⍺-tocopherol and a 10 times higher free radical inhibitory activity than related antioxidants (α-tocopherol, α-carotene, β -carotene, lutein and lycopene). In vitro and in vivo studies have associated astaxanthin´s unique molecular features with several health benefits, including neuroprotective, cardioprotective and antitumoral properties, suggesting its therapeutic potential for the prevention or co-treatment of dementia, Alzheimer, Parkinson, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Benefits on skin and eye health promotion have also been reported, highlighting its potential for the prevention of skin photo-aging and the treatment of eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts and uveitis. In this review, we summarize and discuss the currently available evidence on astaxanthin benefits, with a particular focus on human clinical trials, including a brief description of the potential mechanisms of action responsible for its biological activities.
This study surveyed that the relationship between the frequencies of intake of taurine-contained nutritional drinks (TCND), and lifestyle and the purposes of intake it. The study was conducted a cross-sectional survey using 265 people (203 male, 62 female) aged 18-64 worked in two companies in Mie Prefecture, Japan between December 2017 and February 2018. The questionnaires gathered characteristics, demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle habits and purpose of TCND intake. We divided the frequency of intake of TCND of at least a few times every month as the high-frequency TCND (HF-TCND) group, and the remaining as the low-frequency TCND (LF-TCND) group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between characteristics, demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle habits and purpose of TCND intake and HF-TCND after controlling for individual variables. Of all participants, 13.4% was evaluated as HT-CND. 16.3% for male or 4.3% for female were evaluated as HF-TCND (p < 0.05). The most reason for frequent choosing a TCND was fatigue recovery. Logistic regression analysis showed that sex, occupation, purpose of TCND intake and stressful are related to HF-TCND. Our study indicates that purpose of TCND intake, such as fatigue recovery and reducing stress, may partly affect the frequency of intake of TCND. Therefore, we must continue to show scientific evidence for taurine by enlightenment activity etc.
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