Astaxanthin – The Antioxidant Extraordinaire

Astaxanthin – ‘the radical defender’

Welcome to Wellwise’s special section on astaxanthin, the ‘radical defender' – we call it the radical defender because of its unequaled ability to scavenge free radicals in the body. In this section you will find a storehouse of information about this remarkable antioxidant, and the many ways in which astaxanthin may benefit your health.

You can begin your journey of discovery here by clicking on any of the links below, or use the navigation bar at the top of each page to pursue your particular interest.

First we explore:

• The ways in which astaxanthin is grown – Haematococcus pluvialis, the algae that produces the most astaxanthin is cultivated in both closed and open environments

• Astaxanthin’s role in nature – which includes slowing the process of oxidation in animals’ bodies and protecting them from UV light damage

Next, we define what astaxanthin is, and

• Astaxanthin food sources – such as marine animals (wild caught salmon being among the richest sources) and colorful vegetables

• Natural astaxanthin vs synthetic – one is not made for human consumption, and is made for sale into the animal feed markets, including aquaculture. Can you guess which?

• Another natural source of astaxanthin, krill oil – Antarctic krill feed on the phytoplankton found on sea ice, a rich producer of astaxanthin

• Astaxanthin antioxidant power – this nutrient has been shown to have many times more antioxidant power than some whose names you probably have heard 

Then, we look at research on the many astaxanthin benefits for health, including its potential effect on

            • Asthma – a study shows that astaxanthin acts in laboratory conditions like an antihistamine

            • Brain health (Alzheimer’s, dementia) – researchers are excited to find that astaxanthin may contribute to the prevention of dementia

            • Blood pressure – several studies demonstrate how this nutrient increases blood circulation, and decreases blood pressure

            • Cancer – not nearly enough studies have been completed in this field, but early research shows that, for instance, astaxanthin inhibits cancer-cell growth in human colon cancer cells

            • Carpal tunnel syndrome – In one clinical study, astaxanthin supplementation resulted in decreased severity and duration of pain

            • Diabetes – high glucose levels damage free radicals and cause inflammation, which astaxanthin deals with handily.

            • Heartburn and digestive health – in several clinical studies, astaxanthin significantly reduced the symptoms of heartburn and indigestion

            • Exercise performance – results are preliminary, but in animal models, astaxanthin supplementation increased endurance capacity and significantly decreased the accumulation of fat

            • Eye health – this nutrient may have even stronger antioxidant activity than lutein and zeaxanthin in terms of protecting against UV-light damage

            • Cardio health – When there’s more astaxanthin around, production of  HDL cholesterol (the “good” kind) goes up, and LDL cholesterol (the “bad” kind) is protected from free-radical damage

            • Immune health – astaxanthin supplementation improves activity of natural killer cells, which target and destroy cells that have become infected with viruses

            • Men’s health – infertility and low testosterone respond to astaxanthin

            • Skin health – Astaxanthin has been shown to protect the skin from UV damage that would otherwise damage skin DNA, and do so even better than other carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lutein

As with most dietary supplements and drugs, people are concerned with side effects. We examine

            • Astaxanthin dangers – There have been at least eight clinical studies using more than 180 humans using astaxanthin to assess its safety, bioavailability and clinical aspects relevant to oxidative stress, inflammation or the cardiovascular system. No adverse outcomes have been reported.

            • Recommended astaxanthin dosage – Various human clinical studies have safely used a very wide range of astaxanthin doses for as long as a year

Coming soon: Astaxanthin is a carotenoid. We compare astaxanthin vs carotenoids from other sources.

Also coming soon: Along with astaxanthin reviews, we discuss how to:

• Buy astaxanthin

• What to look for when buying astaxanthin