Astaxanthin supplementation impact on insulin resistance, lipid profile, blood pressure, and oxidative stress in polycystic ovary syndrome patients: A triple-blind randomized clinical trial

Astaxanthin (ASX) is a natural carotenoid compound found in several of microorganisms and seafood. It may have numerous therapeutic benefits for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ASX on lipid profile, insulin resistance (IR), blood pressure (BP), and oxidative stress (OS) levels in infertile PCOS patients. Overall, 58 infertile women with diagnosed PCOS participated in this triple-blind randomized clinical trial. They were randomly assigned to two groups, taking either a placebo or ASX (2 x 6 mg/day) for 8 weeks. Blood serum samples were collected from patients before and after the intervention. Fasting Insulin (FI), fasting blood glucose (FBS), OS markers (malondialdehyde [MDA], superoxide dismutase [SOD], and total antioxidant capacity [TAC]), and lipid profiles were evaluated in serum. Moreover, based on the relevant formula, several indices associated with IR were calculated. BP was also assessed at the start and end of the study. After 8 weeks of ASX consumption, a significant reduction was observed in fasting blood sugar, HOMA-IR, FI, MDA, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and TC/HDL-C. Conversely, ASX significantly increased TAC, HDL-C, and QUICKI. After adjusting the analysis for the baseline values of age, body mass index, and biochemical parameters, non-significant values were obtained for QUICKI and FI, along with no changes in other findings. Overall, ASX appears to be an effective and safe supplement that alleviates insulin metabolism, lipid profile parameters, and OS in infertile PCOS patients.