Metabolic disorders, such as lipid accumulation, insulin resistance, and inflammation, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of NAFLD/NASH. Both innate and recruited immune cells mediate the development of insulin resistance and NASH. Oxidative stress is also pivotal for the progression of NASH. Astaxanthin is a natural carotenoid mainly derived from microorganisms and marine organisms. Due to its special chemical structure, astaxanthin has strong antioxidant activity. β-Cryptoxanthin is a xanthophyll carotenoid specifically found in the Satsuma mandarin. β-Cryptoxanthin is readily absorbed and relatively abundant in human plasma, together with α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Considering the unique chemical properties of astaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin and the complex pathogenic mechanism of NASH, astaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin are regarded as a considerable compound for the prevention and treatment of NASH. This chapter comprehensively describes the mechanism of the application for astaxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin on the prevention and treatment of NASH from the aspects, including antioxidative stress, inhibition of inflammation and promotion of M2 macrophage polarization, improvement of mitochondrial oxidative respiration, amelioration of insulin resistance, and suppression of fibrosis.
Keywords: Astaxanthin; Macrophage/Kupffer cell; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); β-Cryptoxanthin.