The effects of astaxanthin supplementation on expression of microRNAs involved in cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review of current evidence

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have biological roles in controlling oxidative stress. Astaxanthin (AST) may regulate circulating miRNAs in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the effect of AST on miRNA involved in CVDs. A systematic literature search from inception to August 2022 resulted in 80 preliminary studies; 15 articles were included. In vitro studies indicated that AST up-regulated miRNAs compromised miR-138, miR-7, miR-29a-3p, and miR-200a, while down-regulated miR-382-5p, miR-31-5p, and miR-21. In vivo articles revealed that AST increased the expression of miR-124, miR-7, miR-29a-3p, and miR-200a but decreased miR-21 and miR-31-5p and the only clinical study showed a drop in miR-146a. The findings indicate that AST regulated different pathways of miRNAs implicated in various conditions. Therefore AST as a new therapeutic strategy could be essential in preventing and controlling CVDs. However, more studies, including clinical trials, are needed to determine the influence of AST on miRNAs associated with CVDs.

Keywords:

• Astaxanthin
• microRNAs
• cardiovascular diseases
• systematic review

Author contributions

MC: Contributed in the conception of article, data collection, interpretation and writing the manusctipt; LF: Participated in data collection, interpretation and writing the manusctipt; SK and MA: contributed in study design, revising the paper critically and approving the version of the manuscript being submitted.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The current study is based on an MSc thesis on nutrition that was financed by Tabriz University of Medical Sciences’ Vice-Chancellor for Research and Student Research Committee [grant number: 66091].