Effect of marine carotenoids against muscle atrophy and its mechanism

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K11792
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: Hirasaka Katsuya 長崎大学, 海洋未来イノベーション機構, 准教授 (70432747)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 二川 健 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(医学域), 教授 (20263824)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 海洋性カロテノイド / 筋萎縮 / ミトコンドリア / 酸化ストレス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Astaxanthin (AX) is a carotenoid that exerts potent antioxidant activity and acts in the lipid bilayer. This study aimed to investigate the effects of AX on muscle-atrophy-mediated disturbance of mitochondria, which have a lipid bilayer. Tail suspension was used to establish a muscle-atrophied mouse model. AX diet fed to tail-suspension mice prevented loss of muscle weight, inhibited the decrease of myofiber size, and restrained the increase of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production in the soleus muscle. To confirm the AX phenotype in the soleus muscle, we examined its effects on mitochondria using Sol8 myotubes derived from the soleus muscle. We found that AX was preferentially detected in the mitochondrial fraction; it significantly suppressed mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production in Sol8 myotubes. These results suggested that AX protected the functional stability of mitochondria, alleviated mitochondrial oxidative stress, and thus, prevented muscle atrophy.

Free Research Field

栄養学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究において、海洋性カロテノイド類アスタキサンチンがミトコンドリアにおいて作用し、筋萎縮予防に効果的であるという科学的根拠を示すことができた。従って、アスタキサンチンを含む機能性食品を用いて高齢者のQOL向上に不可欠な運動能力の維持を図ることは、エクササイズやリハビリテーションに頼ることが困難な高齢者にとって極めて有用な方策となりうることが示唆された。。