Effects of Astaxanthin Supplementation
NCT Number: NCT06511960
Status: COMPLETED
Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
Phases: NA
Conditions: Dietary Supplements
Interventions: OTHER: Astaxanthin (12 mg/day) intervention|OTHER: 36 mg/day astaxanthin intervention|OTHER: Placebo
Sponsor: Hacettepe University
Sex: MALE
Age: ADULT
Enrollment: 24
Study Design: Allocation: RANDOMIZED|Intervention Model: PARALLEL|Masking: DOUBLE (PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR)|Primary Purpose: OTHER
Start Date: 2023-09-01
Completion Date: 2024-04-15
Locations: Muhammed Atakan, Ankara, 06690, Turkey

Summary:
Astaxanthin is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory carotenoid. Research examining whether astaxanthin (AX) could counteract exercise-induced muscle damage and improve exercise capacity reported inconsistent results.Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the impact of 4 weeks supplementation with AX on muscle damage markers, total antioxidant status, and subjective marker of muscle pain. Twenty-four males were randomly assigned to the AX12 group (12 mg/day; n=8), AX36 group (36 mg/day; n=9), or placebo group (PLC; n=7). After 4 weeks of supplementation, blood samples were collected at rest, immediately after, and at 2, 24, 48, and 72 hours following eccentric arm exercise at 85% of predetermined one repetition maximum to assess muscle damage markers (creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase), total antioxidant status (malondialdehyde and uric acid), and muscle pain levels were evaluated using the Numerical Visual Pain Scale0-10.

Primary Outcome Measures: Assessment of Muscle Pain, The pain sensation in the participants' elbow extensor and elbow flexor muscles was assessed using the NRS. NRS is one of the most widely used scales due to its simplicity and effectiveness for assessing pain intensity across various medical settings and research studies. This scale rates individuals' pain on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 representing no pain and 10 representing the worst pain imaginable (1-3: mild pain, 4-6: moderate pain, 7-10: severe pain). In this study, we evaluated the participants' pain immediately after exercise and at 2, 24, 48, and 72 hours post-exercise. For this, participants were instructed to move their arms, which were used in the 1RM eccentric arm exercise, from a fully bent position to a fully straight position. During this movement, participants were asked to rate the intensity of pain they experienced., 2-6 months|Assessment of Malondialdehyde (MDA), MDA is a natural product of lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation is a well-known mechanism of animal and plant cell damage and suggests the level of oxidative stress or damage in cells and tissues. The MDA levels were assessed using thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay kits (Cayman TBARS, Cayman Chemical, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, item no. 10009055) based on the trichloroacetic acid method in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. The absorbance measurements were taken using the ChemWell 2910 ELISA reader device (Awareness, Technology, Inc. Martin Hwy. Palm City, USA). The results were presented as mmol Trolox Equiv./L for TAS and µM for MDA., 2-6 months|Assessment of Total Antioxidant Status (TAS), Serum TAS (mmol Trolox Equiv./L) was determined using the Rel Assay Diagnostics kit (Mega Tip, Gaziantep, Turkey) using the method developed by Erel. This method mediates the production of a hydroxyl radical. The hydroxyl radical is the most powerful among biological radicals. In the test, the Fe ion solution present in reagent 1 is mixed with hydrogen peroxide present in reagent 2. Using this method, the antioxidative effect of the sample against the strong free radical reactions initiated by the hydroxyl radical produced was measured. The test had excellent sensitivity values of \> 97%. Results were expressed as millimoles of Trolox equivalents per liter (mmol Trolox Equiv./L)., 2-6 months|Assessment of Muscle Damage Markers: Creatine kinase (CK) and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Serum CK and LDH were analyzed on a fully automatic analyzer (Roche Cobas Integra 400 Plus, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany) using ROCHE kits (Mannheim, Germany). Data were calculated using linear regression and measurements were taken at 550 nm., 2-6 months|Assessment of Uric Acid, Uric acid were analyzed on a fully automatic analyzer (Roche Cobas Integra 400 Plus, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany) using ROCHE kits (Mannheim, Germany). Data were calculated using linear regression and measurements were taken at 550 nm., 2-6 months
Secondary Outcome Measures: Measurement of One-Repetition Maximum (1RM) Arm Strength, The 1RM arm strength of participants was quantified by measuring the number of biceps curl repetitions performed in a seated position, following a 10-repetition warm-up set with a load equivalent to 50% of the estimated 1RM based on the participants' experience. Following a one-minute recovery period, a first set of five repetitions was performed at 75% of 1RM. After a two-minute recovery period, a second set of three repetitions was performed at approximately 90% of 1RM. Finally, after a 4-minute recovery, incremental increases of 2.5 kg were applied for each subsequent 1RM attempt until failure. After 4 weeks of supplementation, all participants performed an eccentric arm exercise of 10 sets × 10 repetitions at 85% of 1RM, with 3-minute passive rest intervals between each set, following a 10-repetition warm-up with 50% of 1RM., 1-5 months