Gowd Vemana, Xiao Jianbo, Wang Mingfu, Chen Feng, Cheng Ka-Wing
Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
Mol Nutr Food Res. 2021 Dec;65(24):e2100252. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.202100252. Epub 2021 Oct 28.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a cluster of physiological dysfunctions typified by persistent hyperglycemia. Diet plays a paramount role in human health, and regular consumption of a fruit- and vegetable-rich diet can delay or prevent DM and its associated complications. The promising effect of fruits and vegetables could be partly attributed to their antioxidant constituents, including carotenoids. Carotenoids are natural antioxidants that occur in many vegetables, fruits, microalgae, and other natural sources. Astaxanthin is a xanthophyll carotenoid predominantly present in microalgae and some red-colored marine organisms. It is currently marketed as a health supplement and is well-known for its antioxidant capacity. Accumulating evidence indicates that astaxanthin exerts its beneficial effects against DM by acting on various molecular targets and signaling pathways in multiple organs/tissues. Astaxanthin can lower blood glucose levels by preserving β-cell function, improving insulin resistance (IR), and increasing insulin secretion. This manuscript summarizes the connection between glucose homeostasis, oxidative stress, and DM. This is followed by a review of recent studies on astaxanthin's pharmacological effects against IR, microvascular (diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, and neurological damage), and macrovascular DM complications emphasizing the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved. A few lines of clinical evidence supporting its antidiabetic potential are also highlighted.
糖尿病（DM）是一组以持续性高血糖为特征的生理功能障碍。饮食对人类健康起着至关重要的作用，经常食用富含水果和蔬菜的饮食可以延缓或预防糖尿病及其相关并发症。水果和蔬菜的显著功效可能部分归因于其抗氧化成分，包括类胡萝卜素。类胡萝卜素是天然抗氧化剂，存在于许多蔬菜、水果、微藻和其他天然来源中。虾青素是一种叶黄素类胡萝卜素，主要存在于微藻和一些红色海洋生物中。它目前作为一种健康补充剂销售，并以其抗氧化能力而闻名。越来越多的证据表明，虾青素通过作用于多个器官/组织中的各种分子靶点和信号通路，对糖尿病发挥有益作用。虾青素可以通过维持β细胞功能、改善胰岛素抵抗（IR）和增加胰岛素分泌来降低血糖水平。本文总结了葡萄糖稳态、氧化应激和糖尿病之间的联系。随后回顾了最近关于虾青素对胰岛素抵抗、微血管（糖尿病视网膜病变、糖尿病肾病和神经损伤）和大血管糖尿病并发症的药理作用的研究，重点强调了其中涉及的细胞和分子机制。还强调了一些支持其抗糖尿病潜力的临床证据。
