From the humble beginnings as very basic aquatic algae, which serve as the main dietary source of certain marine species such as salmon, lobster,
shrimps, and crab, an orange-red colored substance called astaxanthin in the algae accumulates in these species and gets carried up the food chain and onto your plate of food.
Which is fortunate for lovers of sea food, as promising research results indicate that astaxanthin could be a valuable nutrient and bioactive compound in the prevention of several diseases and in maintaining good health.
What is astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin is a natural orange-red pigment that is known for its unique chemical structure, which gives it its powerful antioxidant capabilities. Certain species of microalgae make high amounts of this pigment when exposed to unfavorable conditions such as high UV exposure from the sun, to reduce the damage from free radicals. Marine species that eat these algae take up the astaxanthin, resulting in the orange-red hue of wild salmon, lobster, crab and shrimp.
The body has a natural balance between antioxidants and free radicals. Oxidative stress occurs when this balance is disrupted. Oxidative stress refers to a condition when large numbers of free radicals overwhelm antioxidant defenses, which can result in cell, tissue, and organ damage, as well as leading to inflammation, which contributes to chronic diseases and other health conditions.
Antioxidants such as astaxanthin play a crucial role in maintaining this natural balance by neutralizing free radicals and helping to prevent or slow down the progression of various health conditions.
Astaxanthin is a potent antioxidant that is significantly stronger than other antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E, which makes it very effective in protecting cells from free radicals.
Health benefits of astaxanthin:
The discovery of astaxanthin for human benefit is relatively new. Studies in this regard are mainly based on laboratory and animal studies, with limited numbers of human studies, consisting of trials with small numbers of participants. However, these results are very promising due to the strong antioxidant properties of astaxanthin, and human research is growing.
Studies have found that astaxanthin can reduce markers of inflammation in the body, which may reduce the risk of certain types of chronic diseases. Astaxanthin acts on reactive oxygen species to reduce proteins that can cause inflammatory diseases.
Apart from its strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, there is some evidence that links astaxanthin to a number of other benefits:
- Skin health: Limited evidence suggests that a combined treatment of topical (ointment) and oral supplementation astaxanthin can reduce wrinkles and age spots, as well as improve skin elasticity and texture. Astaxanthin may also protect the skin from UV radiation.
- Ocular diseases: A growing body of evidence from studies shows that astaxanthin can play a role in the prevention and treatment of several ocular diseases, such as retinal disorders (the retina is the innermost nervous layer of the eye), uveitis (inflammatory conditions affecting the middle layer of the eye), and diseases affecting the surface of the eye, such as dry eyes disease, decreased tear volume, unstable tear film, and excessive tear evaporation.
- Brain health: Astaxanthin’s ability to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation may offer neuroprotective properties to improve brain health. An animal study found that supplementation with astaxanthin increased the formation of new brain cells and enhanced spatial memory in mice. A human trial with 96 subjects showed improvements in cognition after being supplemented with astaxanthin for 12 weeks. Astaxanthin’s antioxidant properties are thought to be able to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain and central nervous system. As it is a smaller molecule, astaxanthin might penetrate the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the brain to positively affect brain function, although this has not yet been proven in clinical studies.
- Heart health: Clinical studies have indicated that astaxanthin supplementation may lower markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, which are potential causes of heart disease. Astaxanthin may also improve blood pressure by playing a role in the widening of blood vessels
- Male fertility: Promising research results, although from a small clinical trial, have indicated that astaxanthin improved the movement of sperm cells and enhanced the ability of sperm to fertilize eggs. Men treated with astaxanthin had a higher pregnancy success rate, compared with a placebo group.
- Metabolic syndrome: Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of disorders that increase the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Promising results from small scale studies have indicated that astaxanthin supplementation may help to improve systolic blood pressure (the top number in blood pressure readings), total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
- Bone health: Animal studies have indicated that astaxanthin may improve bone health through its antioxidant properties, by helping to increase bone density and reducing bone loss in mice. Astaxanthin may be a promising treatment for bone diseases such as osteoarthritis, however human clinical studies are lacking in this regard.
Health risks associated with astaxanthin:
- Blood pressure: As astaxanthin may help to lower blood pressure, it could have an effect when taking blood pressure medication.
- Allergic reactions: People with a known seafood allergy should avoid getting astaxanthin from these sources, but rather from synthetic origins to avoid the risk of an allergic reaction.
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It is not known whether astaxanthin supplementation may cause any side effects during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Dosage:
Although there is no set dosage for astaxanthin, studies have indicated that daily doses from 4-12 mg are beneficial, including for reducing inflammation in the body. Higher doses have been administered without any significant side effects. The appropriate dosage would depend on factors such as age and health conditions, although there is currently not enough scientific information available to determine an appropriate range of doses for astaxanthin.
Astaxanthin is a highly fat-soluble substance, meaning that it is best absorbed when consumed with fat. Its structure allows it to enter cell membranes or stay outside of cell membranes, which permits it to protect cells from free radicals both inside and outside the cell.
Should you wish to obtain astaxanthin from whole food sources, a few servings of astaxanthin-rich foods should be included in your diet per week.
Sources of astaxanthin supplements:
About 95% of astaxanthin supplements are produced synthetically from petrochemicals due to its cost efficiency for mass production. The real thing is natural astaxanthin made from sea harvested algae and is deemed to be 20 times more effective than synthetic astaxanthin.
As is the case with any supplement, it is advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before adding any supplement to your regimen.
Conclusion:
Astaxanthin is a natural type of orange-red pigment with strong antioxidant properties found in certain types of marine algae. For human consumption it can be found in marine life that feeds on the algae, such as wild-caught salmon, lobster, crab, and shrimp, all of which get their orange-red coloring from the algae. The alternative is to take supplements, of which sea harvested astaxanthin is deemed to be much more effective than synthetically produced astaxanthin.
Studies in humans are limited, but available results from animal studies and small human studies point at numerous benefits that support biological functions. Indications are that astaxanthin may be able to help improve skin, brain, and heart health, boost male fertility, support better vision, and reduce inflammation.
References:
Health benefits of astaxanthin. Published online and updated 7 May 2024. Health. (www.health.com)
Health benefits of astaxanthin. Published online and medically reviewed 23 September 2024. WebMD. (www.webmd.com)
Astaxanthin. Published online. RxList. (www.rxlist.com)
Astaxanthin. Published online and updated February 2025. Drugs.com. (www.drugs.com)
Clinical applications of astaxanthin in the treatment of ocular diseases: Emerging insights. Published May 2020 in the journal Marine Drugs (18:5): 239. PubMed Central. National Centre for Biotechnology Information. US National Library for Medicine. National Institutes of Health. USA. (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Astaxanthin benefits for the skin, brain, heart, and muscles. Published 19 November 2022. Dr Axe. (Founder of ANCIENT NUTRITION.) (www.draxe.com)
Astaxanthin benefits. Published online and updated 18 August 2023. Self Decode. (A personalized health report service.) (www.supplements.selfdecode.com)
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