Astaxanthin
ABOUT
ASTAXANTHIN
Astaxanthin is a reddish-pink pigment created by microalgae that give many sea creatures such as krill, salmon and crayfish their red colour.2 When certain algae are stressed by a change in their environments such as a change in temperature or a change in UV light, they release Astaxanthin to defend themselves. When released, the Astaxanthin surrounds the algae and protects it, giving it the ability to survive dormant without food or water for over 40 years.3 It is these protective properties that have sparked so many new studies with new human applications constantly being discovered.
Biosphere provides a cost effective and easy way to get ideal amounts of Astaxanthin each day.
Astaxanthin Benefits
Of the 700 carotenoids discovered in nature so far, Astaxanthin has proven to be the most powerful. The extent of human benefit potential is growing as we learn more about how antioxidants play a role in our well-being.
JOINT HEALTH
Help support Joint and Skeletal health by reducing inflammation and pain.
BRAIN HEALTH
Help improve memory while protecting your brain from free radicals
SKIN HEALTH
Help protect your skin from the sun’s harmful free radical causing UV rays
EXERCISE RECOVERY
Help improve endurance and recovery after strenuous exercise
HEART HEALTH
Help energize the heart to normalise blood pressure and cholesterol levels
EYE HEALTH
Support healthy eyes and slows down age-related macular degeneration
IMMUNE HEALTH
Help improve the immune response to potential threats in your body
AS A FREE RADICAL SCAVENGER, ASTAXANTHIN IS:
65 TIMES MORE POWERFUL THAN VITAMIN C
54 TIMES STRONGER THAN BETA-CAROTENE<
14 TIMES GREATER THAN VITAMIN E
Where is Astaxanthin found in nature?
Astaxathin is found in a wide range of natural organisms. It is predominantly found in marine life and traced back to a specific green algae called Haematococcus pluvialis. When eaten or stressed, this algae turns red, producing astaxanthin to try and protect itself. This algae is consumed by different types of marine life such as salmon, krill, lobsters and flamingos making them pink but also another source of Astaxanthin.
| Source | ASTAXANTHIN CONCENTRATION (PPM) |
| Haematococcus pluvialis Algae | 40,000 |
| Phaffia Yeast | 10,000 |
| Shrimp | 1,200 |
| Krill | 120 |
| Salmon | 5 |
| Lobster | 0.3 |
Astaxanthin however is not limited to only marine life, as there is a type of yeast called Phaffia that also produces Astaxanthin but at lower levels to the algae.
As haematoccus pluvialis is at the bottom of this marine life food chain and the source of the Astaxanthin, it has by far the highest concentrations, making it great for sourcing high doses of Astaxanthin.
How Astaxanthin is produced around the world
With the growing popularity of Astaxanthin, new growing facilities are popping up all around the world to match consumer demand. In countries with plenty of sunlight outdoor growing is generally preferred as the sun is used to stress the algae into producing Astaxanthin. Alternatively indoor facilities uses long tubes and utilise lights to stress the algae.
What the medical studies are saying
Astaxanthin may reduce soccer player muscle damage
This double blind trial gave 4mg of astaxanthin daily or placebo to 40 young soccer players and through blood tests, found better results in the Astaxanthin group for inflammation, immune system function and muscle recuperation. They concluded Astaxanthin reduces muscle damage, preventing inflammation induced by rigorous training.Published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Astaxanthin shows potential for brain health – Human study
This study showed twelve weeks of supplementation with Astaxanthin were associated with significant reductions in phospholipid hydroperoxides, known to accumulate abnormally in the red blood cells of people with dementia, compared to the placebo. Published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
Astaxanthin may protect skin from within
This study found that dietary supplementation of Astaxanthin effectively prevented features of photoaging such as transepidermal water loss, and wrinkle formation in the skin of mice exposed to UVA radiation, published in PLoS One.
Astaxanthin shows anti-diabetic potential
Astaxanthin may protect cells exposed to high-glucose levels which happens with diabetes from the oxidative stress associated with abnormally high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar and the oxidative stress that occurs with it are linked to many diabetic issues including kidney disease, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Astaxanthin may extend endurance by boosting mitochondrial action
Scientists from the University of Sao Paulo report that long term supplementation with astaxanthin significantly delayed the time to exhaustion by 29% of lab rats in a swimming test. As exercise is associated with an overproduction of free radicals in muscles, with Astaxanthin they saw an increase in glutathione, limited oxidative stress and delayed exhaustion, published in Nutrients.
Study supports Astaxanthin’s immune boosting power
The study found a reduction in C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation in the Astaxanthin groups, as well as an increase in the activity of their immune systems natural killer cells. Dietary astaxanthin was conlucded to decrease a DNA damage biomarker and enhance immune response in young healthy females. Published in Nutrition & Metabolism
Astaxanthin the perfect summer supplement – Skin protection effects
A randomized, double blind human study with 23 healthy Japanese adults over the course of 9 weeks found the Astaxanthin group had a reduction in skin moisture loss in the irradiated area compared with the placebo, published in Nutrients.
Study shows astaxanthin is effective against daily mental and physical fatigue
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) anaylsis showed that Astaxanthin significantly reduced perceived symptoms of mental and physical fatigue compared to the placebo. These included improvements in clarity of thinking, concentration, motivation and mood. Published in the Journal of Clinical Therapeutics & Medicines.
Astaxanthin shows benefits for obese health
Researchers found daily doses of 5 or 20mg of Astaxanthin for three weeks were associated with increases in levels of the body’s own antioxidant defenses, as well as decreases in levels of oxidative species, published in Phytotherapy Research
Astaxanthin linked to improved heart health
Result from a randomized double bling studied indicated that daily supplementation of Astaxanthin reduced plasma hydroxyl fatty acids levels, indicating that astaxanthin protects sensitive fatty acids from oxidation according to the International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research.
Astaxanthin supplement may improve heart rates during exercise
Data indicated that a daily 12mg dose of Astaxanthin reduced heart rate by 10% during long distance running published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
Astaxanthin may protect skin health from within
Research from a 16 week clinic trial with 65 healthy women found that Astaxanthin may protect against wrinkles and moisture loss in skin, as well as improving skin elasticity compared to placebo according to the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition.
Astaxanthin consumption linked to skin rejuvenation
Four weeks of daily supplementation of 4mg per day resulted in significant reductions in markers of oxidative stress over 20% in facial skin according to results published in Nutrition Research.
Astaxanthin shows benefits against colitis
Astaxanthin was associated with a reduction in the occurrence of ulcers in the lining of the colon, as well as lower levels of pro-inflammatory compounds, according to findings published in Chemico-Biological Interactions.
Protective effects of Astaxanthin against light-induced retinal damage.
With light-induced retinal damage to both test groups, the ones that received Astaxanthin saw protection against light damage via the mechanism of its antioxidant effect, according to findings published in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Astaxanthin supplementation shows improvement in dry eye suffers.
In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of astaxanthin in patients with dry eyes, researchers found a significant improvement with the Astaxanthin group compared to the control with an increase in tear production and improvement in tear film stability according to a paper published in Clinical Opthalmology.
Astaxanthin FAQ
Q: What are the dangers and side effects of Astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin is a natural extract from algae. It has no known dangers from human consumption but may interact with some medication. In some rare cares huge doses over 50mg per day, may cause a temporary yellowish discoloration of the skin.
Q: What is Astaxanthin used for?
Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant so it uses extend through reducing inflammation in the body. Most commonly people use astaxanthin for ailments directly related to excess inflammation such as joints, eyes, skin, gut and brain.
Q: How much Astaxanthin should I take?
A standard health maintenance dose of astaxanthin is 6mg per day. Doses increase up to 18mg per day depending on the ailment and level of inflammation.
Q: Can Astaxanthin help my skin?
Yes, astaxanthin has been shown to protect one’s skin from the sun’s aging effects and improve skin elasticity for a more youthful appearance. A study out of Japan concluded that long-term astaxanthin supplementation may inhibit age-related skin deterioration and maintain skin conditions associated with environmentally induced damage via its anti-inflammatory effect. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5525019/
Q: When is the best time to take Astaxanthin?
It is best to take astaxanthin with a meal, especially with one containing some fats. It binds to fat to be absorbed into the gut so for optimal absorption, take your astaxanthin with a fatty meal.
Q: What is the best astaxanthin supplement?
Most Astaxanthin supplements on the market are naturally derived from haematococcus pluvialis algae, this is a must. Avoid synthetic astaxanthin.
Make sure the astaxanthin has some kind of oil base to enhance absorption like olive oil or coconut oil.
Q: Is Astaxanthin safe during pregnancy
Astaxanthin is generally regarded as safe however maximum safe doses in pregnant or nursing women and young children, have not been determined so should be avoided out of caution.
Q: Is Astaxanthin vegan?
Yes Astaxanthin is vegan, but the softgels most astaxanthin comes in are made from gelatin and are not vegan.
Q: Is Astaxanthin good for my eyes?
Studies have shown a positive correlation between Astaxanthin and eye health. There have been a wide range of eye benefits by supplementing astaxanthin such as supporting dry eyes [2], protection against UV damage [3], blood vessel growth [4], retinal protection [5] and more.
Free-radicals, Antioxidants, & Inflammation
As nature’s most powerful antioxidant, Astaxanthin’s key role in the body is cleaning up free radicals, resulting in a reduction in inflammation. As inflammation goes down so does the severity of a long list of health concerns.
Free radicals are unstable molecules that have lost an electron, becoming positively charged and chemically reactive. These unstable molecules proceed to cause damage to cell membranes, often damaging the DNA of the cell and causing inflammation. Free radicals are caused by many elements in our environment and lifestyle which for most people is slowly deteriorating through a lack of exercise, poor diet and a toxic environment. External toxins such as air pollution, pesticides in our food, cigarettes, alcohol and many more, are all resulting in the increase of free radicals in our bodies. Normally our bodies should be able to neutralise free radicals, however with an imbalance of free radicals to antioxidants we are experiencing increased amounts of oxidative stress and inflammation.
Antioxidants are what our bodies use to counter free radicals. Obtained from our diet and produced in our body, antioxidants work to mop up free radicals by offering up an electron to stabilise the unstable molecule. Unfortunately, we do not produce enough antioxidants to protect ourselves from typical levels of free radicals which is why a diet high in colourful fruits and vegetables are extremely beneficial. There is, however, a downside to some antioxidants in high concentrations such as vitamin C and E, which after offering electrons to free radicals then become pro-oxidants themselves. Pro-oxidants induce oxidative stress and are just as harmful as free radicals. Studies have shown Astaxanthin will never become a pro-oxidant after offering elections and as an antioxidant helps neutralise multiple free radicals simultaneously, earning its name as nature’s most powerful antioxidant.
Inflammation is an imperative biological process that enables us to survive the way we do, typically presenting itself as redness, pain, swelling or warm skin. It is our body’s answer to repairing damaged tissue and fighting infection by signaling areas of concern, however, chronic inflammation can be extremely harmful.
Sunburn is an example of visual inflammation with the skin turning red, becoming sensitive and warm due to the UV damage from the sun. More often than not, when there is inflammation, there is oxidative stress that can often go unnoticed for years if it doesn’t cause any obvious pain. Most processed foods, smoking, alcohol, stress, fast food and infections are key triggers of inflammation that identify as toxic and harmful to our bodies resulting in an immune response. Being exposed to any key triggers for years with low levels of unnoticeable inflammation eventually adds up, as the damage that has been done finally arises in the form of a disease.
To combat the results of inflammation anti-inflammatory drugs are one option, but often come with long lists of potential harmful side effects. Astaxanthin and other natural anti-inflammatories can be a better alternative as they help increase your bodies level of antioxidants, or free radical fighting army, to take control of any key inflammatory triggers before they grow into a serious problem.
Astaxanthin can affect a large range of inflammation mediators but in a less concentrated manner, resulting in an overall protection throughout the body, without the negative side effects.
We’ve created an astaxanthin supplement containing 6mg of astaxanthin per softgel. To learn more about our astaxanthin, check out the product page here.
To check out the reviews for our Biosphere Astaxanthin and to find out what people are saying about Astaxanthin, visit the product page here.
Author
Ron Goedeke MD, BSc Hons MBChB, FNZCAM – Updated August 2018
Dr Ron Goedeke, specialises in alternative and functional medicine. He is a foundation member of the New Zealand college of Appearance medicine and has been a member of the American Academy of Anti-aging medicine since 1999. With over 20 years of experience in the anti-aging field, Dr Ron Goedeke is recognized as one of New Zealand’s leaders in this new and growing field of medicine.
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References
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4869783/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5637851/
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4933686/
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27158842
[1] Anti-inflammatory effects of astaxanthin in the human gingival keratinocyte line NDUSD-1
[2] Astaxanthin – Wikipedia
[3] Astaxanthin – WebMD
Studies
[1] Guerin, Martin, Mark E. Huntley, and Miguel Olaizola. “Haematococcus astaxanthin: applications for human health and nutrition.TRENDS in Biotechnology 21.5 (2003): 210-216.
[2] Katagiri, Mikiyuki, et al. “Effects of astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus pluvialis extract on cognitive function: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.” Journal of clinical biochemistry and nutrition 51.2 (2012): 102
[3] Nakagawa, Kiyotaka, et al. “Antioxidant effect of astaxanthin on phospholipid peroxidation in human erythrocytes.”British Journal of Nutrition 105.11 (2011): 1563-1571.
[4] Liu, Xuebo, and Toshihiko Osawa. “Astaxanthin protects neuronal cells against oxidative damage and is a potent candidate for brain food.” (2009): 129-135. (2009): 129-135.
[5] Kidd, Parris. “Astaxanthin, cell membrane nutrient with diverse clinical benefits and anti-aging potential.” Altern Med Rev 16.4 (2011): 355-64..
[6] Parisi, Vincenzo, et al. “Carotenoids and antioxidants in age-related maculopathy Italian study: multifocal electroretinogram modifications after 1 year.” Ophthalmology 115.2 (2008): 324-333.
[7] Martin, H. D., et al. “Chemistry of carotenoid oxidation and free radical reactions.” Pure and applied chemistry71.12 (1999): 2253-2262.
[8] Tominaga, Kumi, et al. “Cosmetic benefits of astaxanthin on humans subjects.” Acta Biochimica Polonica 59.1 (2012): 43.
[9] Clinical Trial Indicates Sun Protection from BioAstin Supplement
[10] Astaxanthin – The Newest Eye Healthcare dietary supplement
[11] What is Astaxanthin
[12] Natural Astaxanthin – King of the Carotenoids 2007
[13] The Medical Research of Astaxanthin 2010
For more resources, visit the Astaxanthin Library