NFE2L2 and diabetic kidney disease: In diabetic (db/db) mice, astaxanthin administration improved the development and acceleration of diabetic nephropathy [101]; it improved experimental diabetes-induced renal oxidative stress and prevented renal fibrosis by upregulating connexin43 and activating the antioxidant Nrf2- (NF-E2-related factor 2-) ARE (antioxidant responsive element) pathway in glomerular mesangial cells [102].