The antioxidant carotenoid astaxanthin has anti-obesity and insulin-sensitivity effects, but the specific molecular mechanisms of its actions are not well established. A recent study looked at how astaxanthin affects insulin sensitivity.
A group of male Swiss albino mice were fed a high fructose diet, and then treated with either astaxanthin in olive oil or olive oil alone. At the end of 60 days, glucose, insulin and pro-inflammatory cytokines in plasma, lipids and oxidative stress markers in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue were assessed.
According to the study, as reprinted on the website Green Med Info:
“This study demonstrates for the first time that chronic astaxanthin administration improves insulin sensitivity by activating the post-receptor insulin signaling and by reducing oxidative stress, lipid accumulation and proinflammatory cytokines in obese mice.”