# Functional Recovery Promotion After Spinal Cord Injury With Astaxanthin Treatment in Preclinical Studies: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

## TL;DR

This study finds that astaxanthin improves motor function and reduces damage after spinal cord injuries in animal models, suggesting it could be a helpful treatment.

## Contribution

This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating astaxanthin's effects on spinal cord injury in preclinical studies.

## Key findings

- Astaxanthin significantly improves motor function after spinal cord injury (SMD = 3.34, p < 0.001).
- Astaxanthin reduces lipid peroxidation and increases antioxidant levels in SCI models.
- Astaxanthin treatment increases spinal cord neurons and white matter preservation.

## Abstract

Introduction: Due to anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune-modulating, and antiaging properties of astaxanthin, it has been used to treat spinal cord injuries (SCIs). In this meta-analysis study, the effects of astaxanthin on SCI in animal models were investigated.

Method: Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were searched based on keywords related to astaxanthin and SCI. The primary screening of articles based on the title and abstract and the secondary screening based on the full text of the articles according to inclusion and exclusion criteria were performed. After extracting the data, statistical analysis was done using STATA software. A standardized mean difference (SMD) was used to analyze the results of the reported studies. Subgroup analysis and quality control of articles was also performed.

Result: The overall results showed that astaxanthin has a strong effect (SMD = 3.34; 95% CI: 1.90 to 4.78; p < 0.001) on improving motor function after SCI especially when administered in multiple doses over consecutive days. Astaxanthin has a strong effect on reducing lipid peroxidation and increasing antioxidants. Treatment with astaxanthin increased the number of spinal cord neurons and spared white matter.

Conclusion: Astaxanthin has the potential to be used as an adjuvant in improving motor behavior, and it is suggested to conduct clinical studies on it.