{
    "abstract": "Astaxanthin (AST) exists as an 'all-E' isomer and various 'Z' isomers due to its multiple conjugated double bonds. The Z configuration has been reported to exhibit stronger antioxidant activity, raising interest in its potential health benefits. All-E AST is a potent chemopreventive agent for weight loss but the anti-obesity efficacy of Z isomers remains unclear. This study therefore explored the role of geometric isomers (all-E, 9-Z, and 13-Z) of AST on the alleviation of obesity using Caenorhabditis elegans, a well established model organism.\nAll-E, 9-Z, and 13-Z AST reduced obesity of high-fat worms substantially. Triglyceride (TG) decreased by 18.84%, with all-E AST, 41.18%, with 9-Z AST, and 35.94% with 13-Z AST (P\u2009<\u20090.05), indicating that Z AST displayed a superior anti-obesity effect. Interestingly, AST, and particularly its Z-isomers, reduced large lipid droplets (LDs) and oleic acid/stearic acid (C18:1\u03949/C18:0) significantly; these contribute to lipid accumulation. Astaxanthin also minimized food intake and boosted energy consumption, and Z-isomers outperformed all-E in enhancing mobility. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), green fluorescent protein binding, and gene-deficient nematodes, the findings of the current study indicated that AST, especially Z isomers, suppressed key gene expression in sbp-1/mdt-15 and insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) pathways, which are responsible for regulating fatty acid composition and energy balance, and subsequently co-downregulated the essential genes fat-6 and fat-7 involved in C18:1\u03949 synthesis.\nThis study provides important insights into the association between anti-obesity effects and geometric isomers of carotenoids, guiding their application in the health field. \u00a9 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.",
    "authors": [
        {
            "affiliation": "Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.\nGuangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.",
            "firstname": "Junting",
            "initials": "J",
            "lastname": "Xie"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.\nGuangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.",
            "firstname": "Rongqian",
            "initials": "R",
            "lastname": "Cai"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.\nGuangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.",
            "firstname": "Xiaoning",
            "initials": "X",
            "lastname": "Hou"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.\nGuangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.",
            "firstname": "Kaixin",
            "initials": "K",
            "lastname": "Zhao"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.\nGuangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.",
            "firstname": "Jie",
            "initials": "J",
            "lastname": "Xiao"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.\nGuangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.",
            "firstname": "Yong",
            "initials": "Y",
            "lastname": "Cao"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.\nGuangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.",
            "firstname": "Xiaojuan",
            "initials": "X",
            "lastname": "Liu"
        }
    ],
    "conclusions": "This study provides important insights into the association between anti-obesity effects and geometric isomers of carotenoids, guiding their application in the health field. \u00a9 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.",
    "copyrights": "\u00a9 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.",
    "doi": "10.1002/jsfa.14202",
    "journal": "Journal of the science of food and agriculture",
    "keywords": [
        "Caenorhabditis elegans",
        "astaxanthin",
        "geometric isomers",
        "obesity",
        "signaling pathways"
    ],
    "methods": null,
    "publication_date": "2025-03-10",
    "pubmed_id": "40059044",
    "results": "All-E, 9-Z, and 13-Z AST reduced obesity of high-fat worms substantially. Triglyceride (TG) decreased by 18.84%, with all-E AST, 41.18%, with 9-Z AST, and 35.94% with 13-Z AST (P\u2009<\u20090.05), indicating that Z AST displayed a superior anti-obesity effect. Interestingly, AST, and particularly its Z-isomers, reduced large lipid droplets (LDs) and oleic acid/stearic acid (C18:1\u03949/C18:0) significantly; these contribute to lipid accumulation. Astaxanthin also minimized food intake and boosted energy consumption, and Z-isomers outperformed all-E in enhancing mobility. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), green fluorescent protein binding, and gene-deficient nematodes, the findings of the current study indicated that AST, especially Z isomers, suppressed key gene expression in sbp-1/mdt-15 and insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS) pathways, which are responsible for regulating fatty acid composition and energy balance, and subsequently co-downregulated the essential genes fat-6 and fat-7 involved in C18:1\u03949 synthesis.",
    "title": "Z-Astaxanthin exhibits superior anti-obesity effects in Caenorhabditis elegans: insights from geometric isomers and signaling pathways.",
    "xml": "<Element 'PubmedArticle' at 0x788503607a10>"
}