Astaxanthin Prevents Hiposalivation in Aging

Dry mouth, associated with decreased salivary secretion with age, is often a health concern in
the elderly, and can lead to dysphagia (difficulty swallowing that is often accompanied by pain
swallowing), dysgeusia (taste changes in the sense of taste), difficulty in using dentures, And
Candida albicans growth. There is currently no effective therapy for this condition, but
decreased salivary secretion is a symptom of some diseases such as aspiration pneumonia. In
most cases, decreased salivary production in the elderly is often associated with drug side
effects. The salivary glands also develop atrophy as they age, thereby also causing a
decrease in salivary secretion.

Oxidative stress that can damage proteins and cell membrane phospholipids, And cause cellular dysfunction
have also shown a clear role in decreasing salivary secretion, so antioxidant therapy may be useful. Astaxanthin
has been used clinically as an antioxidant supplement extracted from the Haematococcus pluvialis
microalgae. Several studies have reported the effects of astaxanthin include oxygen singlet elimination, fat
peroxidation control, and antiinflammation. Previously, the results of a study in rats also showed that
administration of astaxanthin may increase salivary secretion in salivary gland dysfunction induced by irradiation.

A study has also been conducted to investigate the effects of astaxanthin on the structural changes of the
submandibular glands and decreased aging salivary secretions. The results showed that salivary flow increased
in old rats treated with astaxanthin at 72 weeks after administration, while control mice had a decrease in saliva
flow by half. The marker value of oxidative stress, diacron-reactive oxygen metabolite (d-ROMs), in astaxanthin-
treated mice, at 72 weeks after administration was significantly lower than control mice, while d-ROMS values of
control mice increased at 72 weeks after therapy. The biological antioxidative potential (BAP) value in
astaxanthin-treated mice, 72 weeks after administration was significantly lower than control mice, while d-ROMS
values of control mice decreased 72 weeks after therapy. Furthermore, The submandibular glands of
astaxanthin-treated mice had fewer inflammatory cells than control mice.

From the results of the study concluded that astaxanthin therapy can prevent decreased salivary secretion
associated with aging. (EKM)

Image: Illustration
References:
1.Kuraji M, Matsuno T, Satoh T. Astaxanthin affects oxidative stress and hyposalivation in aging mice. J Clin
Biochem Nutr. 2016; 59 (2): 79-85. 2.Yamada T, Ryo K, Tai Y, Tamaki Y, Inoue H, Mishima K, et al. Evaluation of
therapeutic effects of astaxanthin on impairments in salivary secretion. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2010; 47 (2): 130-
7. Doi: 10.3164 / jcbn.10-31. Illustrations References: 1.Kuraji M, Matsuno T, Satoh T. Astaxanthin affects
oxidative stress and hyposalivation in aging mice. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2016; 59 (2): 79-85. 2.Yamada T, Ryo K,
Tai Y, Tamaki Y, Inoue H, Mishima K, et al. Evaluation of therapeutic effects of astaxanthin on impairments in
salivary secretion. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2010; 47 (2): 130-7. Doi: 10.3164 / jcbn.10-31. Illustrations
References: 1.Kuraji M, Matsuno T, Satoh T. Astaxanthin affects oxidative stress and hyposalivation in aging
mice. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2016; 59 (2): 79-85.
2.Yamada T, Ryo K, Tai Y, Tamaki Y, Inoue H, Mishima K, et al. Evaluation of therapeutic effects of astaxanthin
on impairments in salivary secretion. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2010; 47 (2): 130-7. Doi: 10.3164 / jcbn.10-31.