Effect of astaxanthin on Diuresis and body composition in experimentalnephrolithiasis

Nephrolithiasis one of the most prevalent and widely studied of renal diseases. No remedy has proved to be completely effective in alleviating the renal damage caused by kidney stones. The most common type of kidney stones is calcium oxalate stones which are composed mainly of calcium oxy monohydrate crystals. This study has been carried out to evaluate the effect of the xanthophyll carotenoid astaxanthin on diuresis and body composition in male Wistar albino rats in which experimental calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis has been induced using ethylene glycol and 1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. Astaxanthin extracted from the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis at two doses 25mg/kg b.wt. and 50mg/kg b.wt. is fed orally and the food and water intake, urine output, body weight and relative weights of liver, kidney and brain were assessed. It was found that both the doses of astaxanthin in a similar manner stimulate food and water intake, increase the urinary output and help in regaining the body weight all of which were significantly reduced in the nephrolithiatic group. The relative organ weights of liver and kidney which were increased in the nephrolithiatic group were also brought to normal levels. These results indicate a protective effect of astaxanthin on calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis.