Consider as one of the most potent carotenoids. It’s no wonder that it is also consider a super potent antioxidant from nature. Indeed, its capacity to fight free radicals is uncanny. It’s 6,000 times higher than vitamin C, 550 times more than vitamin E and 40 times greater than beta-carotene. (x)
Finding various ways to enrich your body with powerful carotenoids or antioxidants will lead you to astaxanthin (pronounced asta-ZAN-thin). It is a prevailing pigment that supports specific seafood with a red-orange color. It also helps many areas of your health from increasing male fertility to reduce wrinkles. On top of that, it’s not rare, and you can add it to your diet since astaxanthin is in many nutritious foods, particularly seafood.
Consuming a diverse selection of sea life for thousands and thousands of years, humans benefited astaxanthin. Today, you can gain its benefits as a supplement. But check with your doctor before taking any new supplement.
History of Astaxanthin
Richard Kuhn isolated and identified astaxanthin from lobster in 1938. Because of Kuhn’s reputation for leading experiments in organic chemistry, astaxanthin became one of the first carotenoids examined by an extensive research community. (x)
What is Astaxanthin?
Carotenoids are natural pigments found in different food. The bright red-orange color of this carotenoid comes from lobster, salmon, krill and algae. Besides becoming a popular supplement, it’s also used as a food coloring in fish and animal feed. (x)
You can find this carotenoid in Chlorophyta, a green algae group called microalgae. The top sources of astaxanthin are phaffia yeast, Haematococcus Pluvialis, and xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous. (x) (x)
As an all-powerful antioxidant, researchers view astaxanthin as a superb source for lowering inflammation. Thus, it helps your body protect itself against specific kinds of chronic diseases. Besides relieving inflammation, researches know the supplement reverses the aging of the skin. Other studies show astaxanthin benefits include heart and brain health, energy and endurance levels, promotes better vision and, as mentioned before, improves fertility in men. All of these occur when the supplement is in its esterified form. This is a natural condition when astaxanthin biosynthesis (converting energy) occurs in microalgae, as documented in animal studies. (x)
Astaxanthin Benefits and Uses
- Helps Protect the Heart
- Promotes Brain Health
- Maintains Healthy Glowing Skin
- Heightens Male Fertility
- Eases Inflammation and Boosts Immunity
- Promotes Healthy Vision
- Heightens Workout and Exercising
- Boosts Cognitive Performance
1. Helps Protect the Heart
As a major problem around the world, heart disease is the leading cause of death. (x) Inflammation and oxidative stress are among the potential causes of cardiovascular diseases. Based on a report from Australia, eight scientific studies support astaxanthin’s positive effects as a supplement for both oxidative stress and inflammation. (x) The Marine Drugs journal offered an accurate report that astaxanthin supplements may help prevent or guard against atherosclerosis—cholesterol and fat buildup in the arteries. (x)
Though these studies are substantial evidence of being an effective measure in promoting a healthy heart, you cannot overlook the importance of eating a healthy diet. Process food and other factors of your lifestyle effects the health of your cardiovascular system.
2. Promotes Brain Health
Aging generates the probability of emergent neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Such conditions cause a gradual loss of neurons in the brain that may lead to symptoms such as confusion, memory loss, tremors, anxiety and agitation.
A substantial amount of research supports that astaxanthin supplements are beneficial to the brain—helps maintain cognitive function. An animal study reports a supplementation of astaxanthin boosted the development of new cells within the brain and improved mice’s spatial memory. (x) Another review published in GeroScience said that astaxanthin’s neuroprotective properties could stem from its capacity to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. (x)
Beets, avocadoes, walnuts, and coconut oil are excellent examples of brain food sources that increase memory and focus.
3. Maintains Healthy Glowing Skin
Equally important to supporting heart and brain health, astaxanthin also benefits the skin. Scientific studies report that the supplement improves your skin’s general appearance and may treat specific skin health concerns.
One study confirms that combining the astaxanthin oral supplements with its topical application enhances age spots, wrinkles, moisture and skin texture. (x) Likewise, PLoS One reported a scientific animal study confirmed that astaxanthin notably improved atopic dermatitis, inflammatory skin condition, in mice. (x)
Another benefit for the skin is astaxanthin protects it from UV-induced skin decline and helps support healthy skin if you have healthy skin based on a placebo-controlled, double-blind and randomized trial with healthy skin participants. (x)
Ideally, you combine the astaxanthin supplement with other natural skincare applications that include shea butter, apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil.
4. Heightens Male Fertility
Worldwide studies report that infertility happens in 15 percent of couples, and of those cases, 50 percent attribute to male infertility. (x) Problems with varicocele and ejaculation, swelling of the veins in the scrotum and hormonal imbalances are the common signs of male infertility.
Favorable studies report that astaxanthin benefits the fertility of men while also boosting sperm quality. Ghent University Hospital conducted a study where the sperm cells’ movement improved and strengthened their ability to fertilize eggs. Moreover, men given astaxanthin gained higher frequencies of pregnancy in their partners than a placebo group. (x)
It is also smart to minimize pesticide exposure, stress and don’t smoke or quit smoking.
5. Eases Inflammation and Boosts Immunity
Inflammation in the body influences and helps your immune system respond to infections. But if you have chronic inflammation, it can cause conditions like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. (x)
Scientific studies discovered that astaxanthin could lower inflammation levels in your body. (x) These benefits could extend out to creating more positive influence on other types of chronic diseases. China reported in a review that astaxanthin might have anti-cancer capabilities that may prevent the spread and production of cancer cells. (x) Though more research with humans would be conclusive.
As an antioxidant, it lowers inflammation throughout your body while boosting your immune system. A controlled and randomized test proved that astaxanthin supplements increased immune response of participants, reducing oxidative stress. Included was the lowered levels of DNA damage. This is substantial as DNA damage can worsen until your body has a disease later in your life. (x)
Bear in mind, eating high-antioxidant foods may help you lessen inflammation and prevent disease. Consider consuming blueberries, dark chocolate, turmeric and ginger.
6. Promotes Healthy Vision
Cataracts and macular degeneration are well-known eye problems related to aging. These health concerns manifest a broad spectrum of symptoms, from blurry vision to total loss of vision.
Several scientific studies show that astaxanthin promotes healthy vision and 20/20 vision. An animal model showed that astaxanthin help protect oxidative damage to retinal cells. (x) Another study showed 48 adults, who complained about eye strain, originated after taking a supplement that included astaxanthin, helped lower some signs of eye fatigue. (x)
7. Heightens Workout and Exercising
Scientific studies prove that taking astaxanthin may benefit your workout or athletic performance by boosting your stamina while also preventing injury.
An animal study reported in Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin that astaxanthin supplements improved the endurance of swimming mice. (x) Another study proved that astaxanthin prevents muscle damaged in exercise-induced mice. (x) Yet, another study said in the International Journal of Sports Medicine that 21 competitive cyclists improved their time trails when they took astaxanthin supplements. (x)
Enhanced joint health is another astaxanthin feature as a supplement helping your workout. A scientific study showed it relieves joint pain in tennis elbow and boosts joint strength. Another study reported that it eases pain related to carpal tunnel syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. (x)
8. Boosts Cognitive Performance
For decades, antioxidants have helped boost cognitive awareness. The reduction of oxidative stress permits you to operate more effectively. Since astaxanthin is high in antioxidants, it has the same overall effect on your central nervous system. A study reports 96 participants noticed substantial progress in awareness after supplementation of astaxanthin for 12 weeks. (x)
What is the Correct Astaxanthin dosage?
The supplement proves to be safe, based on a several studies, up to 40 milligrams daily for 12 weeks. As a daily supplement, the recommended dose is 4 to 8 milligrams, 1 to 3 times a day with your meals. Begin with a moderate amount and increase gradually. (x) Visit with your doctor before starting any new supplement.
Where Can I Buy Astaxanthin Supplements?
You can purchase astaxanthin supplements at BulkSupplements.com. The company is an industry-leading manufacturer and distributor for pure dietary supplements. BulkSupplements.com is not just a consumer brand. It also supplies pure ingredients to other brands that distribute food and other supplement products. All products at BulkSupplements.com are manufactured and tested according to current and proper manufacturing practices.
Are you interested in trying the astaxanthin supplement for its potential to support your overall health and well-being? Contact BulkSupplements.com to place an order today.
Astaxanthin Potential Side Effects
As a supplement, some have reported mild side effects, though it is safe to take for your well-being in moderate doses. However, when taken in large dosages, potential side effects report changes in sex drive, increased skin pigmentation, hair growth, decreased blood pressure, altered hormone levels and lowered calcium blood levels.
If pregnant or breastfeeding, not enough research is available if the supplement is helpful or not, so it’s best to avoid taking the supplement until more scientific studies have related information.
Bottom Line
Isolated and identified by Richard Kuhn in 1938, astaxanthin is a carotenoid naturally found in krill, shrimp, crab, lobster, algae, wild-caught salmon and red trout.
Astaxanthin benefits are many because of its antioxidant qualities. The supplement may improve the health of vision, heart, brain and skin. It also increases male fertility, boosts exercise and endurance while reducing inflammation.
There are potential side effects caused by over-supplementing. Included are hormone changes, hair growth, changes in calcium blood levels and raised skin pigmentation.
Adding the natural supplement to your diet may improve several qualities of your health because astaxanthin has high-antioxidants.
The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
