Comparison of the effects and mechanisms of astaxanthin, astaxanthin esters and astacene on high-fat diet-induced NAFLD
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a global health challenge with limited therapeutic options. This study compared the efficacy and mechanisms of astaxanthin (AX), astaxanthin esters (AXE), and astacene (AC) in ameliorating high-fat diet-induced NAFLD in mice. The three supplements...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Functional Foods |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464625003275 |
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| author | Chunhao Gao Fangtian Chen Nengyun Gong Shiran Hu Mengjia Zhu Qingxin Zhou Xiang Gao |
| author_facet | Chunhao Gao Fangtian Chen Nengyun Gong Shiran Hu Mengjia Zhu Qingxin Zhou Xiang Gao |
| author_sort | Chunhao Gao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a global health challenge with limited therapeutic options. This study compared the efficacy and mechanisms of astaxanthin (AX), astaxanthin esters (AXE), and astacene (AC) in ameliorating high-fat diet-induced NAFLD in mice. The three supplements improved liver function, and reduced hepatic lipid accumulation, liver injury, serum lipid levels, HOMA-IR index in NAFLD mice. Notably, AXE exhibited slightly better trends. Mechanistically, they activated the hepatic Nrf2/Keap1 antioxidant pathway. Gut microbiota analysis suggested that improvements in gut microbiota dysbiosis might partly elucidate their protective mechanisms on NAFLD, with AC exhibiting superior efficacy. Moreover, transcriptome sequencing analysis indicated that AX primarily regulates gene transcription in adipose tissue and AC exhibited the most potent regulatory impact on gene transcription in liver. While AXE displayed notable efficacy in modulating transcriptional profiles across both tissues. This study provides novel insights into the effects of astaxanthin derivatives in ameliorating NAFLD |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5f227b1e121c40589fe3e5844387600f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1756-4646 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Functional Foods |
| spelling | doaj-art-5f227b1e121c40589fe3e5844387600f2025-08-20T05:06:12ZengElsevierJournal of Functional Foods1756-46462025-10-0113310698510.1016/j.jff.2025.106985Comparison of the effects and mechanisms of astaxanthin, astaxanthin esters and astacene on high-fat diet-induced NAFLDChunhao Gao0Fangtian Chen1Nengyun Gong2Shiran Hu3Mengjia Zhu4Qingxin Zhou5Xiang Gao6College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Marine Technology, Rizhao Polytechnic, Shandong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Marine Crustacean Resources Comprehensive Utilization, Shandong Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization Technology of Marine Food Resources, Rizhao Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Marine Food Resources, Rizhao, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Qingdao University, Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Marine Technology, Rizhao Polytechnic, Shandong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Marine Crustacean Resources Comprehensive Utilization, Shandong Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization Technology of Marine Food Resources, Rizhao Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Marine Food Resources, Rizhao, China; Corresponding authors.College of Life Sciences, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China; Corresponding authors.Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a global health challenge with limited therapeutic options. This study compared the efficacy and mechanisms of astaxanthin (AX), astaxanthin esters (AXE), and astacene (AC) in ameliorating high-fat diet-induced NAFLD in mice. The three supplements improved liver function, and reduced hepatic lipid accumulation, liver injury, serum lipid levels, HOMA-IR index in NAFLD mice. Notably, AXE exhibited slightly better trends. Mechanistically, they activated the hepatic Nrf2/Keap1 antioxidant pathway. Gut microbiota analysis suggested that improvements in gut microbiota dysbiosis might partly elucidate their protective mechanisms on NAFLD, with AC exhibiting superior efficacy. Moreover, transcriptome sequencing analysis indicated that AX primarily regulates gene transcription in adipose tissue and AC exhibited the most potent regulatory impact on gene transcription in liver. While AXE displayed notable efficacy in modulating transcriptional profiles across both tissues. This study provides novel insights into the effects of astaxanthin derivatives in ameliorating NAFLDhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464625003275NAFLDAstaxanthinAstaxanthin estersAstaceneGut microbiotaTranscriptome |
| spellingShingle | Chunhao Gao Fangtian Chen Nengyun Gong Shiran Hu Mengjia Zhu Qingxin Zhou Xiang Gao Comparison of the effects and mechanisms of astaxanthin, astaxanthin esters and astacene on high-fat diet-induced NAFLD Journal of Functional Foods NAFLD Astaxanthin Astaxanthin esters Astacene Gut microbiota Transcriptome |
| title | Comparison of the effects and mechanisms of astaxanthin, astaxanthin esters and astacene on high-fat diet-induced NAFLD |
| title_full | Comparison of the effects and mechanisms of astaxanthin, astaxanthin esters and astacene on high-fat diet-induced NAFLD |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of the effects and mechanisms of astaxanthin, astaxanthin esters and astacene on high-fat diet-induced NAFLD |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of the effects and mechanisms of astaxanthin, astaxanthin esters and astacene on high-fat diet-induced NAFLD |
| title_short | Comparison of the effects and mechanisms of astaxanthin, astaxanthin esters and astacene on high-fat diet-induced NAFLD |
| title_sort | comparison of the effects and mechanisms of astaxanthin astaxanthin esters and astacene on high fat diet induced nafld |
| topic | NAFLD Astaxanthin Astaxanthin esters Astacene Gut microbiota Transcriptome |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464625003275 |
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