Astaxanthin and risk of cardiovascular diseases: a meta-analysis of epidemiological evidence

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze and evaluate the effect of astaxanthin on clinical indicators related to cardiovascular disease. Methods: Fives databases include PUBMED, CNKI, WEIPU, WAN FANG and ClinicalTrials were searched up to January 31, 2022, and the random-effects model was used to calculate the summary risk. A total of 14 epidemiological studies were included in this meta-analysis.Results: The overall study showed no significant dose-response association of astaxanthin (AST) with diastolic blood pressure, DBP (weighted mean difference, WND:-0.186, 95%confidence interval, CI:-0.374 to 0.002, P=0.052) and body mass index, BMI ( WND:0.095, 95%CI: -0.164 to 0.354, P=0.473).However, the results revealed that astaxanthin can significantly reduce the concentrations of total cholesterol (WND:-0.310, 95% CI:-0.541 to -0.168, P=0.000), the concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C (WND: -0.207, 95% CI: -0.396 to -0.019, P=0.031), the concentrations of triglyceride (WND:-0.603, 95% CI:-1.028 to -0.179, P=0.005), the concentrations of glucose (WND: -0.353, 95% CI:-0.596 to -0.110, P=0.004) and systolic blood pressure, SBP(WND:-0.258, 95% CI:-0.495 to -0.021, P=0.033). Moreover, astaxanthin could increase the concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL-C (WND: -0.294, 95% CI:-0.515 to -0.072, P=0.009).Conclusions: This meta-analysis indicates that astaxanthin has a protection role on the cardiovascular system. Further studies need to be conducted to verify the findings.