ubiquinone and astaxanthine

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a clinical condition characterized by lipid infiltration of the liver, highly prevalent in the general population affecting 25% of adults, with a doubled prevalence in diabetic and obese patients. Almost 1/3 of NAFLD evolves in Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis (NASH), and this can lead to fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver. However, the main causes of mortality of patients with NAFLD are cardiovascular diseases. At present, there are no specific drugs approved on the market for the treatment of NAFLD, and the treatment is essentially based on optimization of lifestyle. However, some nutraceuticals could contribute to the improvement of lipid infiltration of the liver and of the related anthropometric, haemodynamic, and/or biochemical parameters. The aim of this paper is to review the available clinical data on the effect of nutraceuticals on NAFLD and NAFLD-related parameters. Relatively few nutraceutical molecules have been adequately studied for their effects on NAFLD. Among these, we have analysed in detail the effects of silymarin, vitamin E, vitamin D, polyunsaturated fatty acids of the omega-3 series, astaxanthin, coenzyme Q10, berberine, curcumin, resveratrol, extracts of

Topics: Antioxidants; Berberine; Curcumin; Dietary Supplements; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Humans; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Obesity; Observational Studies as Topic; Plant Extracts; Probiotics; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Resveratrol; Salvia miltiorrhiza; Silymarin; Ubiquinone; Vitamin D; Vitamin E; Xanthophylls

It is of great therapeutic significance that disordered function of the vascular endothelium which supply the affected ocular structures plays a major role in the pathogenesis and development of age-related macular degeneration. Chronic inflammation is closely linked to diseases associated with endothelial dysfunction, and age-related macular degeneration is accompanied by a general inflammatory response. According to current concept, age-related macular degeneration is a local manifestation of systemic vascular disease. This recognition could have therapeutic implications because restoration of endothelial dysfunction can restabilize the condition of chronic vascular disease including age-related macular degeneration as well. Restoration of endothelial dysfunction by pharmaacological or non pharmacological interventions may prevent the development or improve endothelial dysfunction, which result in prevention or improvement of age related macular degeneration as well. Medicines including inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system (converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor blockers and renin inhibitors), statins, acetylsalicylic acid, trimetazidin, third generation beta-blockers, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonists, folate, vitamin D, melatonin, advanced glycation end-product crosslink breaker alagebrium, endothelin-receptor antagonist bosentan, coenzyme Q10; "causal" antioxidant vitamins, N-acetyl-cysteine, resveratrol, L-arginine, serotonin receptor agonists, tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockers, specific inhibitor of the complement alternative pathway, curcumin and doxycyclin all have beneficial effects on endothelial dysfunction. Restoration of endothelial dysfunction can restabilize chronic vascular disease including age-related macular degeneration as well. Considering that the human vascular system is consubstantial, medicines listed above should be given to patients (1) who have no macular degeneration but have risk factors for the disease and are older than 50 years; (2) who have been diagnosed with unilateral age-related macular degeneration in order to prevent damage of the contralateral eye; (3) who have bilateral age-related macular degeneration in order to avert deterioration and in the hope of a potential improvement. However, randomised prospective clinical trials are still needed to elucidate the potential role of these drug treatments in the prevention and treatment of age-related macular degeneration.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antioxidants; Aspirin; Bosentan; Dietary Supplements; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Folic Acid; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Infliximab; Lutein; Macular Degeneration; Melatonin; PPAR gamma; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; Renin; Renin-Angiotensin System; Resveratrol; Stilbenes; Sulfonamides; Trimetazidine; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Ubiquinone; Vitamin D; Xanthophylls

Nutritional approaches to improve dyslipidemias have been recently developed, but evidences on different medical foods are often incomplete. The main aim of our study was to evaluate the effects on endothelial function, lipid profile, and glucose metabolism of two different combinations of nutraceuticals, first one containing Bergavit (200 mg Citrus bergamia), Omega-3 (400 mg), Crominex 3+ (10 mcg trivalent chromium), and red yeast rice (100 mg; 5 mg monacolin K) and second one containing red yeast rice (200 mg; 3 mg monacolin K), Berberine (500 mg), Astaxanthin (0.5 mg), folic acid (200 mcg), Coenzyme Q10 (2 mg), and Policosanol (10 mg). Fifty subjects affected by dyslipidemia not requiring statin treatment were enrolled in this randomized, blind, controlled trial and submitted to blood sampling for lipid and glucose profiles and instrumental evaluation of endothelial function before and after 6 weeks of treatment with nutraceuticals. Both nutraceutical combinations improved the lipid profile; the nutraceutical containing 5 mg of monacolin K, 200 mg of the extract

Topics: Adult; Aged; Biological Products; Chromium; Citrus; Dietary Supplements; Dyslipidemias; Endothelial Cells; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Fatty Alcohols; Female; Humans; Lipid Metabolism; Lipids; Male; Middle Aged; Ubiquinone; Xanthophylls

Statins are at the forefront of strategies to manage dyslipidemia, although they are not always well tolerated. At 6-7 months after the drug was supplied, discontinuation rates averaged 30%. Alternate agents to statins have been studied. Some nutraceuticals demonstrated an efficacy in reducing cholesterol concentrations. However, there are no data regarding the use of nutraceuticals in elderly dyslipidemic patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of a nutraceutical-based protocol in elderly hypercholesterolemic patients previously intolerant to statins.. This study was performed as a randomized, prospective, parallel group, single-blind study. Patients were included in the study if they had high total cholesterolemia, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), >75 years of age, statin-intolerant, and were refusing other pharmaceutical treatments for hypercholesterolemia. At the baseline visit, eligible patients were randomized to either nutraceutical-combined pill (containing berberine 500 mg, policosanol 10 mg, red yeast rice 200 mg, folic acid 0.2 mg, coenzyme Q10 2.0 mg, and astaxanthin 0.5 mg) or placebo, and the first dose was dispensed. The efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the proposed treatment were fully assessed after 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment.. Out of 106 consecutive patients screened, 80 eligible patients were randomized to receive either nutraceutical-combined pill (40 patients) or placebo (40 patients). No patients were lost and no deaths occurred during the follow-up. There was a statistically significant reduction in total cholesterolemia (-20%), LDL-C (-31%), and insulin resistance (-10%) with nutraceutical treatment. No significant changes were detected for plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Furthermore, no statistical differences were found between baseline and end-study safety parameters. Medication compliance and tolerability were high.. In this study the authors have demonstrated that combined nutraceuticals significantly reduce cholesterolemia and achieved acceptable plasma LDL-C levels in elderly hypercholesterolemic patients who were previously statin-intolerant. Combined nutraceuticals is also safe and well tolerated in these patients.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anticholesteremic Agents; Berberine; Biological Products; Blood Glucose; Cholesterol; Dietary Supplements; Fatty Alcohols; Female; Folic Acid; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Lipoproteins, LDL; Male; Medication Adherence; Prospective Studies; Single-Blind Method; Ubiquinone; Xanthophylls

Protein-based nanoassemblies can encapsulate hydrophobic compounds into their hydrophobic region and effectively improve their aqueous solubility and stability. However, hydrolyzed food protein based micellar nanoassemblies and their interaction with different hydrophobic compounds are less understood. Here, 20 nm α-lactalbumin (α-lac) micellar nanoassemblies were constructed via self-assembly of partially hydrolyzed α-lac peptides by Bacillus licheniformis proteinase. We identified three fractions of peptides which reorganized into this kind of nanomicelle after exposure of α-lac hydrophobic groups. Moreover, four hydrophobic compounds (curcumin, quercetin, astaxanthin, coenzyme Q10) were successfully loaded into nanomicelles mainly via hydrophobic interactions. Among these four compounds, curcumin was most encapsulated in micelles due to its smaller molecular weight, high hydrophobicity and less steric hindrance. The strongest interaction was also observed between curcumin and nanomicelles. Finally, their aqueous solubility and UV stability after micellar encapsulation were significantly improved. This demonstrated that α-lac micelles are promising delivery systems for hydrophobic compounds.

Topics: Bacillus licheniformis; Bacterial Proteins; Curcumin; Drug Compounding; Hydrolysis; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Lactalbumin; Micelles; Peptide Hydrolases; Quercetin; Solubility; Ubiquinone; Xanthophylls

Topics: Berberine; Biological Products; Cassia; Dietary Supplements; Dyslipidemias; Fatty Alcohols; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Metabolic Syndrome; Treatment Outcome; Ubiquinone; Xanthophylls

Taxonomic studies were performed on an astaxanthin-dideoxyglycoside-producing strain, designated PB304(T), isolated from soil near a pond in Daejeon city, South Korea. Cells of strain PB304(T) were Gram-staining-negative, strictly aerobic, orange-coloured and motile, and occurred as single or paired short chains. PB304(T) did not contain bacteriochlorophyll a. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain PB304(T) was closely related to 'Sphingomonas humi' KCTC 12341 (98.7%), Sphingomonas kaistensis KCTC 12344(T)(97.9%), Sphingomonas astaxanthinifaciens DSM 22298(T) (97.6%) and Sphingomonas ginsengisoli KCTC 12630(T) (97.5%). Analysis of pufLM gene sequences revealed strain PB304(T) to be closely related to 'S. humi' KCTC 12341 (88.1%). The major cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0, summed feature 4 (comprising iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c), and summed feature 7 (comprising C18  : 1ω7c/ω9t/ω12t). Ubiquinone 10 (Q-10) was the sole quinone identified, and the major pigment was astaxanthin dideoxyglycoside. The major polar lipids were sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The polyamine was spermidine. The DNA-DNA relatedness values of strain PB304(T) with respect to its closest phylogenetic neighbours were 57.1% for 'S. humi' KCTC 12341, 51.2% for Sphingomonas kaistensis KCTC 12334T, 50.6% for Sphingomonas astaxanthinifaciens DSM 22298(T) and 50.2% for Sphingomonas ginsengisoli KCTC 12630(T). The DNA G+C content of strain PB304(T) was 66.6 mol%. On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain PB304T is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas lacus is proposed. The type strain is PB304(T) ( = KCTC 32458(T) = CECT 8383(T)).

Topics: Bacterial Typing Techniques; Base Composition; DNA, Bacterial; Fatty Acids; Glycosides; Molecular Sequence Data; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Phospholipids; Phylogeny; Ponds; Republic of Korea; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Soil Microbiology; Spermidine; Sphingomonas; Ubiquinone; Xanthophylls

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, strictly aerobic, flagellated and non-spore-forming marine bacterium designated strain CC-AMO-30B(T) was isolated from coastal surface seawater, Taiwan. Strain CC-AMO-30B(T) synthesized astaxanthin [40 µg (g dry weight)(-1)] and formed reddish-orange-coloured colonies on marine agar (Difco 2216). The strain showed highest pairwise 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Sphingomicrobium lutaoense CC-TBT-3(T) (96.4%) followed by other members of the family Sphingomonadaceae (<94%) and established a discrete phyletic lineage associated with the former. The polar lipid profile constituted a remarkable number of unidentified glycolipids (GL1-8), in addition to diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingoglycolipid and two unidentified lipids (L1-2). The major fatty acids (>5% of total fatty acids) were C(18:1)ω7c/C(18:1)ω6c (summed feature 8), C(16:1)ω7c/C(16:1)ω6c (summed feature 3), C(18:1) 2-OH, methyl C(18:1)ω7c, C(17:1)ω6c and C(16 : 0). DNA G+C content was 70.6%; major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10; predominant polyamine was the triamine sym-homospermidine. Chemotaxonomic evidence including characteristic glycolipid profile, presence of significant amounts of C(18:1) 2-OH and absence of typical hydroxylated fatty acids such as C(14:0) 2-OH, C(15:0) 2-OH and C(16:0) 2-OH in considerable amounts, accompanied by phylogenetic distinctiveness and several other phenotypic features support the classification of strain CC-AMO-30B(T) as a representative of a novel species within the genus Sphingomicrobium for which the name Sphingomicrobium astaxanthinifaciens sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is CC-AMO-30B(T) ( =JCM 18551(T) =BCRC 80465(T)).

Topics: Bacterial Typing Techniques; Base Composition; DNA, Bacterial; Fatty Acids; Glycolipids; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Seawater; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sphingomonadaceae; Taiwan; Ubiquinone; Xanthophylls

The hypothesis of the present study was that Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) would respond to large variations in supplementation of dietary pro- and antioxidants, and marine lipid, with adjustment of the endogenously synthesised antioxidants, glutathione (GSH) and ubiquinone (UQ). An experiment with 2(7-3) reduced factorial design (the number of cases reduced systematically from 2(7) (full design) to 2(4) (reduced design)) was conducted, where vitamins, minerals and lipid were supplemented in the diet at high and low levels. For the vitamins and minerals the high levels were chosen to be just below anticipated toxic levels and the low levels were just above the requirement (vitamin C, 30 and 1000 mg/kg; vitamin E, 70 and 430 mg/kg; Fe, 70 and 1200 mg/kg; Cu, 8 and 110 mg/kg; Mn, 12 and 200 mg/kg). For astaxanthin, the dietary levels were 10 and 50 mg/kg and for lipid, 150 and 330 g/kg. The experiment was started with post-smolts (148 (sd 17 g)) and lasted for 5 months. The only effect on GSH was a minor increase ( < 10 %) in total concentration in the liver in response to high dietary lipid. GSH redox state was not affected. UQ responded to dietary lipid, astaxanthin and vitamin E, both with regard to total concentration and redox state. Except for an effect of Fe on plasma GSH, the trace elements and vitamin C had no effect on tissue levels and oxidation state of GSH and UQ. This shows that the endogenous redox state is quite robust with regard to variation of dietary pro- and antioxidants in Atlantic salmon.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Dietary Fats; Dietary Supplements; Glutathione; Liver; Micronutrients; Minerals; Oxidation-Reduction; Regression Analysis; Salmon; Seafood; Trace Elements; Ubiquinone; Vitamins; Xanthophylls

During embryogenesis in grass shrimp the capacity to scavenge oxyradicals increased as measured by the Total Oxyradical Scavenging Capacity (TOSC) assay. The increase in TOSC during embryogenesis was associated with increasing concentrations of a number of antioxidants, including coenzyme Q (ubiquinone), alpha-tocopherol and reduced glutathione. Glutathione concentrations ranged from 0.004 to 0.005 nmol/embryo in early embryo stages and reached concentrations between 0.16 to 0.23 nmol/embryo in late embryo stages. Ascorbate remained essentially constant (0.16-0.20 nmol/embryo) throughout embryogenesis and may provide the preponderance of TOSC during early embryo development. Carotenoids were associated with yolk lipovitellin and these antioxidants decreased as yolk was absorbed during embryogenesis. Astaxanthin and beta-carotene were identified in embryos with astaxanthin always the principal carotenoid. In early embryo stages there are maternally derived antioxidants but as embryogenesis proceeds there is an assembly of a complex antioxidant system by newly formed cells and tissues.

Topics: alpha-Tocopherol; Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Coenzymes; Female; Glutathione; Methionine; Palaemonidae; Peroxides; Reactive Oxygen Species; Ubiquinone; Xanthophylls