Research Progress on Astaxanthin Plus Exercise for the Prevention and Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Traditional...

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by inflammatory reactions and bone lesions within the joint, which is mainly caused by the degeneration of articular cartilage. This disease primarily affects middle-aged and elderly populations, especially those over 50 years old; however, a distinct trend of younger onset has been observed in recent years, which is closely associated with factors such as sports-related injuries and obesity. Astaxanthin (AST), a ketone carotenoid belonging to the xanthophyll family, exhibits extremely strong antioxidant and broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory activities with no obvious toxic and side effects due to its unique molecular structure, thus showing great potential in the prevention and treatment of KOA. This article reviews the research evidence and action mechanisms of AST in the prevention and treatment of KOA from multiple aspects, including alleviating joint pain, reducing cartilage structural damage, resisting oxidative stress, inhibiting inflammatory responses, and regulating cartilage metabolism and functional disorders, while exploring the key factors and signaling pathways involved. On this basis, a strategy combining AST with exercise intervention for the prevention and treatment of KOA is proposed, which provides a certain reference for the clinical treatment and scientific research of KOA.