AUTHOR=Fleischmann Chen , Horowitz Michal , Yanovich Ran , Raz Hany , Heled Yuval 

TITLE=Asthaxanthin Improves Aerobic Exercise Recovery Without Affecting Heat Tolerance in Humans

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

VOLUME=1

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2019.00017

DOI=10.3389/fspor.2019.00017

ISSN=2624-9367

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> To examine the supplementation effects of the xanthophyll carotenoid Astaxanthin on physical performance and exertional heat strain in humans.</p><p><bold>Design:</bold> A randomized double blind placebo controlled trial.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Twenty two male participants (Age: 23.14 ± 3.5 y, height: 175 ± 6 cm, body mass: 69.6 ± 8.7 kg, % body fat: 16.8 ± 3.8) received placebo (PLA, <italic>n</italic> = 10) or Astaxanthin (ATX, <italic>n</italic> = 12) 12 mg/day Per os (P.O), for 30 days, and were tested pre and post-supplementation with a maximal oxygen uptake (VO<sub>2</sub> Max) test and the heat tolerance test (HTT) (2 h walk at 40°C, 40% relative humidity (RH), 5 kph, 2% incline). NIH database registration no. NCT02088242. Gas exchange, Heart rate (HR), Relative perceived exertion (RPE), and blood lactate were measured during the VO<sub>2</sub> Max test. Heart rate (HR), rectal (Trec), and skin (Tskin) temperatures, RPE, and sweat rate (SR) were monitored in the HTT. Serum heat shock protein 72 (HSP72), Creatine phospho-kinase (CPK), C-reactive protein (CRP), and lipid profile were measured before and after the test.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> The rise in blood lactate caused by the VO<sub>2</sub> Max test was significantly diminished in the ATX group (9.4 ± 3.1 and 13.0 ± 3.1 mmole<sup>*</sup>l<sup>−1</sup> in the ATX and PLA groups, respectively <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.02), as was the change in oxygen uptake during recovery (−2.02 ± 0.64 and 0.83 ± 0.79% of VO<sub>2</sub> Max in the ATX and PLA group, respectively, <italic>p</italic> = 0.001). No significant differences were observed in the anaerobic threshold or VO<sub>2</sub> Max. In the HTT, no significant physiological or biochemical differences were observed (HR &lt;120 bpm, Trec rose by ~1°C to &lt;38°C, no difference in SR).</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> Astaxanthin supplementation improved exercise recovery. No benefit was observed for ATX over PLA in response to heat stress. Further examination of Astaxanthin in higher exertional heat strain is required.</p>