Synergistic Effects of a Pro-Inflammatory-High-Fat Composite Dietary Pattern on Gut-Liver Injury and the Therapeutic Potential of Haematococcus pluvialis-Derived Astaxanthin

Background and Objectives: Pro-inflammatory diet and high-fat diet (HFD) often coexist in real-world, but their combined impact on the gut-liver axis and potential nutritional countermeasures remain insufficiently studied. This study aimed to evaluate a pro-inflammatory-high-fat composite dietary pattern on the intestine and liver in the population, and to further evaluate the protective potential of astaxanthin (ATX) in complementary experimental systems. Methods: Data from the NHANES 2005-2010 were used to construct four composite exposure groups based on the dietary inflammation index (DII) and energy from fat. Survey-weighted regression analyses were performed to examine associations with systemic inflammation and liver injury. Interaction and C-reactive protein (CRP)-mediated effect analyses were conducted. Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group induced by HFD combined with inflammatory factors, and low-, medium-, and high-dose Haematococcus pluvialis (HP) intervention groups. Serum lipids, liver enzymes, liver and colon pathology, and inflammatory and oxidative markers were measured in rats. In an in vitro organ-on-chip barrier model, the effect of ATX was observed when colonic barrier damage was induced using palmitic acid and lipopolysaccharides. Results: The high DII combined with HFD showed the largest increases in CRP, liver enzymes, and fatty liver index. A synergistic interaction was observed between DII and HFD, with CRP mediating approximately 20% of the effect. In rat model, HP-derived ATX improved the lipid profile, attenuated hepatic steatosis and oxidative damage, and reduced colonic pro-inflammatory cytokines, while restoration of tight junction proteins was limited. In colon organoid model, ATX showed limited efficacy in improving inflammation and barrier function. Conclusions: The pro-inflammatory-high-fat dietary pattern synergistically exacerbates gut-liver dysfunction. HP-derived ATX alleviates metabolic and inflammation-induced enterohepatic comorbidity, but its effect on repairing barrier structure is limited.