| Effect | Decrease |
| Values | mmol/l. Mean and SD. Astaxanthin: before 26.0 (5.0), after 25.0 (5.0). Placebo: before 24.5 (5.8), after 24.0 (4.8). |
| Trial Design | Randomized trial |
| Trial Length | 6+ Months |
| Number of Subjects | 61 |
| Sex | Both Genders |
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 61 participants who had undergone renal transplants were assigned to take 12 mg of astaxanthin daily or placebo for 1 year.Funding issues for this study:
The primary outcome was arterial stiffness as measured by pulse-wave velocity, oxidative stress (total F2-isoprostanes), and inflammation (pentraxin-3). While pulse wave velocity increased somewhat less in the astaxanthin group, the difference wasn't statistically significant. There was a slight advantage of astaxanthin for carotid artery intima-media thickness, but this also wasn't statistically significant, while there was no notable difference for flow-mediated dilation, blood pressure, central pulse pressure. Augmentation index was reduced somewhat in the astaxanthin group and increased in the placebo group, though the difference wasn't statistically significant.
There were no statistically significant differences for c-reactive protein, lipid profile, lipid peroxidation markers, inflammation or liver enzymes, though pentraxin-3 was reduced modestly in the astaxanthin group and increased considerably in the placebo group.
"Cyanotech Corporation supported this study and provided the astaxanthin
and identical placebo; however, they had no role in the study concept and
design, data acquisition and analysis, drafting of the manuscript, or decision
to pursue publication."
