To determine if ingestion of lycosome-formulated dark chocolate (DC) containing astaxanthin (ASTX) improves bioavailability of ASTX and affects markers of hypoxia and oxidative stress in aging individuals.

Randomized, blinded, four-arm, prospective study.

Lycotec Ltd, Cambridge, United Kingdom and Institute of Cardiology, Saratov, Russian Federation.

32 healthy individuals aged 60–70 years with confirmed signs of oxidative stress (increased serum levels of oxidized LDL and malonic dialdehyde) randomized into four study groups (8 volunteers each).

Volunteers of first group were given orally 10 gr of dark chocolate (DC). Individuals from the second group received 7 mg of astaxanthin (ASTX). Third group of volunteers was supplemented with 10 gr of DC and 7 mg of ASTX ingested simultaneously as two separate formulations. Last group of the individuals was given 10 gr of a lycosomal formulation of DC containing 7 mg of co-crystalized ASTX (L-DC-ASTX), a newly developed highly bioavailable nutraceutical composition of DC containing 2 groups of antioxidants (cocoa flavanols and ASTX). All formulations were given orally, once daily for a month.

Serum ASTX was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Nitric oxide, malonic dialdehyde and oxidized LDL were quantified spectrophotometrically. Oxygenation parameters were evaluated by near-infrared spectroscopy.

One month ingestion of singular formulation of ASTX lead to a 20 fold buildup in serum ASTX level whereas the 4 week ingestion of L-DC-ASTX formulation was accompanied by more prominent accumulation of ASTX in serum (a 40 fold increase over the basal values) at the same daily dose of ASTX. Both antioxidants taken separately decreased serum levels of oxidized LDL and malonic dialdehyde. However effect of L-DC-ASTX formulation was more prominent. ASTX ingested alone caused a borderline increase (p=0.054) in serum nitric oxide (NO) levels, whereas DC ingestion lead to small but statistically significant increase in serum NO concentration. Higher values of NO level were seen after co-ingestion of DC and ASTX, especially in case of L-DC-ASTX formulation suggesting additive/synergistic effects of DC and ASTX on nitric oxide production. These changes were in agreement with the increase in plasma oxygen transport and tissue oxygen saturation seen in the volunteers supplemented with L-DC-ASTX formulation.

The nutraceutical formulation of DC and ASTX with an enhanced bioavailability of ASTX can be efficiently used for the correction of oxidative status in aging individuals.