Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40286220›Full record

ArticleMolecules (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Astaxanthin Mitigates ADHD Symptoms in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats via Dopaminergic Modulation and Brain-Gut Axis Regulation.

Yueyang Leng, Ning Wu, Jing Wang, Lihua Geng, Yang Yue, Quanbin Zhang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Yueyang LengCAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China.
Ning WuCAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China.
Jing WangCAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China.
Lihua GengCAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China.
Yang YueCAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China.ORCID 0000-0002-7736-0405
Quanbin ZhangCAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China.ORCID 0009-0008-9491-2647

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 42176137
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder that significantly impacts learning, daily functioning, and personal development. Astaxanthin (ASTA), a naturally occurring antioxidant, has garnered interest as a potential therapeutic agent for various diseases, particularly in mitigating oxidative stress. This study explores a novel application of ASTA in the context of ADHD, aiming to investigate its therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), widely used ADHD model animals, were treated with ASTA (50/100 mg/kg/day) for three weeks, 5 mg/kg/day atomoxetine (ATO) as the positive, and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats as control. Behavioral improvements were assessed using the open field test (OFT) and the Morris water maze (MWM). Biochemical analyses were conducted to evaluate changes in the levels of various neurotrophic factors, while histological examinations were performed to assess neuroprotective effects. Additionally, the role of ASTA in the brain-gut axis was investigated. The behavioral symptoms of hyperactivity, anxiety, and impaired spatial memory in ADHD animals were mitigated by ASTA. This improvement is primarily attributed to the restoration of neurotransmitter levels, particularly dopamine (DA), achieved through the modulation of several critical components within the dopamine system, including dopamine receptor 1 (DR1), dopamine transporter (DAT), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and synaptic-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25). Additionally, regulating the serotonin transporter (SERT) and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) supports the recovery of serotonin levels and facilitates optimal brain development. Furthermore, cerebellar cells were protected, and the structure of the intestinal microbiota was regulated. ASTA can mitigate ADHD symptoms in SHR through the modulation of the dopaminergic system, multiple neurotransmitters, neurotrophic factors, and the neuro-intestinal environment, which establishes ASTA as a promising nutraceutical candidate for adjunctive therapy in pediatric ADHD.

Indexed as

Attention Deficit Disorder with HyperactivityBrainBrain-Gut AxisDopamineAnimalsBehavior, AnimalDisease Models, AnimalMaleMaze LearningRatsRats, Inbred SHRRats, Inbred WKYXanthophyllsastaxanthineDopamineXanthophyllsastaxanthinatomoxetineattention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)dopamine (DA)gut microbiotaneuroprotection

Identifiers

PMID40286220
PMCPMC11990597

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.