Astaxanthin Supplementation Delays Physical Exhaustion and Prevents Redox Imbalances in Plasma and Soleus Muscles of Wistar Rats

Abstract

Astaxanthin (ASTA) is a pinkish-orange carotenoid commonly found in marine organisms, especially salmon. ASTA is a powerful antioxidant and suggested to provide benefits for human health, including the inhibition of LDL oxidation, UV-photoprotection, and prophylaxis of bacterial stomach ulcers. Exercise is associated to overproduction of free radicals in muscles and plasma, with pivotal participation of iron ions and glutathione (GSH). Thus, ASTA was studied here as an auxiliary supplement to improve antioxidant defenses in soleus muscles and plasma against oxidative damage induced by exhaustive exercise. Long-term 1 mg ASTA/kg body weight (BW) supplementation in Wistar rats (for 45 days) significantly delayed time to exhaustion by 29% in a swimming test. ASTA supplementation increased scavenging/iron-chelating capacities (TEAC/FRAP) and limited exercise-induced iron overload and its related pro-oxidant effects in plasma of exercising animals. On the other hand, ASTA induced significant mitochondrial Mn-dependent superoxide dismutase and cytosolic glutathione peroxidase antioxidant responses in soleus muscles that, in turn, increased GSH content during exercise, limited oxidative stress, and delayed exhaustion. We also provided significant discussion about a putative “mitochondrial-targeted” action of ASTA based on previous publications and on the positive results found in the highly mitochondrial populated (oxidative-type) soleus muscles here.

Preventive effects of nucleoprotein supplementation combined with intermittent loading on capillary regression induced by hindlimb unloading in rat soleus muscle

“…However, intermittent loading did not prevent capillary regression as well as the previous report (Kanazashi et al 2014). This is likely to be due to overload since exercise associates the overproduction of free radicals in skeletal muscle (Polotow et al 2014).…”

“…This is likely to be due to overload since exercise associates the overproduction of free radicals in skeletal muscle (Polotow et al. ).…”

“…), exercise produces the oxidative stress in skeletal muscle (Polotow et al. ). Thus, intermittent loading might attenuate the effect of nucleoprotein on SOD activity especially in plasma.…”

“…However, the additional effect of the combination was not observed. Although exercise also increases the SOD activity in plasma (Cardoso et al 2013;Peeri et al 2013), exercise produces the oxidative stress in skeletal muscle (Polotow et al 2014). Thus, intermittent loading might attenuate the effect of nucleoprotein on SOD activity especially in plasma.…”

Effects of the supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid on muscular antioxidant biomarkers of trained mice

“…5 Although this depends on the type of exercise and supplementation, animal and human studies have shown benefits of antioxidant supplementation on the recovery of damages caused by exhaustive exercise, either by restoring antioxidant levels or by decreasing the damage. [6][7][8] The α-lipoic acid (ALA) is a disulfide compound with eight carbon atoms which acts as the natural cofactor in the pyruvate dehydrogenase and α-ketoglutarate complexes. 9 The exogenous α-lipoic acid is absorbed and taken to the cells where it is reduced to dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) which has been shown by presenting potent antioxidant activity.…”