Administration of natural astaxanthin increases serum HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin in subjects with mild hyperlipidemia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Astaxanthin has been reported to improve dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome in animals, but such effects in humans are not well known.

METHODS:

Placebo-controlled astaxanthin administration at doses of 0, 6, 12, 18 mg/day for 12 weeks was randomly allocated to 61 non-obese subjects with fasting serum triglyceride of 120-200mg/dl and without diabetes and hypertension, aged 25-60 years.

RESULTS:

In before and after tests, body mass index (BMI) and LDL-cholesterol were unaffected at all doses, however, triglyceride decreased, while HDL-cholesterol increased significantly. Multiple comparison tests showed that 12 and 18 mg/day doses significantly reduced triglyceride, and 6 and 12 mg doses significantly increased HDL-cholesterol. Serum adiponectin was increased by astaxanthin (12 and 18 mg/day), and changes of adiponectin correlated positively with HDL-cholesterol changes independent of age and BMI.

CONCLUSIONS:

This first-ever randomized, placebo-controlled human study suggests that astaxanthin consumption ameliorates triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol in correlation with increased adiponectin in humans.

• Authors: Hiroshi Yoshida, Hidekatsu Yanai, Kumie Ito, Yoshiharu Tomono, Takashi Koikeda, Hiroki Tsukahara, Norio Tada
• Journal: Atherosclerosis (Atherosclerosis) Vol. 209 Issue 2 Pg. 520-3 (Apr 2010) ISSN: 1879-1484 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 19892350 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Adiponectin
• Cholesterol, HDL
• Triglycerides
• Xanthophylls
• astaxanthine

Topics

• Adiponectin (blood)
• Adult
• Cholesterol, HDL (blood)
• Female
• Humans
• Hyperlipidemias (blood, drug therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Triglycerides (blood)
• Xanthophylls (therapeutic use)