Astaxanthin is not a health supplement you often hear about but is gaining in importance and popularity. Recent studies are finding that it is one of the most powerful and potent antioxidants there is. Astaxanthin is healthy for the heart, eyes, blood and can prevent many diseases including dementia. Learn about all of the health benefits of astaxanthin.
| What foods have astaxanthin in them? Astaxanthin is mainly found naturally in krill, wild salmon, trout, shrimp and crayfish. |
What Are Oxidants?
Oxidants are a normal by-product of our own metabolism and can cause damage to our body. We can see oxidation every day when an apple turns brown or food goes rancid when it is left out. Oxidation is when oxygen reacts with cells. In our body, we have cells dying all of the time and sometimes these dead cells become what are called free radicals.
Free radicals can cause damage to other healthy cells which in turn can cause disease. Free radical damage from oxidization can cause numerous health problems including:
- Premature aging
- Cancer
- Arthritis
- Autoimmune diseases
- Heart disease and cardiovascular disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Cataracts
- Damage DNA
- Diseases caused by inflammation
Other than oxygen reacting normally with our cells, free radicals are also caused by smoking, pollution or smog, stress, radiation, and chemicals in our foods.
What Is an Antioxidant?
Antioxidants protect us from free radicals caused by oxidization. Antioxidants mainly come from the vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals in vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs, whole grains and some types of fish. This is why the US government tells us to eat at least five servings or 2 ½ cups of fruits and vegetables per day. Yet most people do not eat even one serving per day.
We hear the word antioxidant, but we might not know exactly what these antioxidants are. Here is a list of well-known antioxidants.
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Flavonoids, of which there are at least 5,000 types that we get from plant foods.
- Polyphenols
- Carotenoids that include beta-carotene, alpha-carotene and also known as pro-vitamin A.
- Lycopene which comes from tomatoes and watermelons. The lycopene gives these and other foods their red color.
- Coenzyme Q10
The Health Benefits of Astaxanthin
Astaxanthin (asta-ZAN-thin) is a phytochemical from the carotenoid family of xanthophylls and is mainly found naturally in krill, wild salmon, trout, shrimp and crayfish. Carotenoids are what gives color to certain foods and animals like orange to carrots, yellow to sweet potatoes and also gives salmon their reddish color and flamingos their pink feathers.
Scientists know that antioxidants can possibly prevent many of the health problems facing us today. Consumers can get confused because recent studies with vitamin E and vitamin C have been contradicting. Studies are showing that astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Astaxanthin and Heart Disease
A scientific study published in the American Journal of Cardiology found that astaxanthin supplements have anti-inflammatory properties and can suppress the damage caused by oxidation that can lead to heart disease and heart attack. Astaxanthin was found to have a healthy effect on the endothelial function which helps the heart vessels to relax and contract properly [1].
Astaxanthin and Dementia
A study published in 2011 found that astaxanthin could help prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. One sign of dementia is abnormal accumulations of phospholipid hydroperoxides (PLOOH) in red blood cells of those suffering from dementia. Astaxanthin supplements were found to decrease these levels of PLOOH in the blood and possibly prevent dementia [2].
Astaxanthin and Insulin
Astaxanthin can also reduce some of the health problems related to metabolic syndrome and problems related to insulin resistance. Astaxanthin given for 22 weeks was found to significantly reduced blood pressure, reduced the fasting blood glucose level and improved insulin sensitivity.
The results also found that Astaxanthin helped cholesterol levels with a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, a significant decrease in triglyceride levels and decrease the size of the fat cells [3].
Astaxanthin Helps Your Skin
Research also found that oral and topical astaxanthin can significantly reduce wrinkles, crow’s feet and the size of age spots. Astaxanthin also improved the elasticity of the skin, skin texture and the moisture content of the skin for both females and males [4].
Astaxanthin also helps protect the skin from the damages of UVA rays of the sun and protects against sunburn [5].
Astaxanthin and Cancer
Astaxanthin can also prevent tumors from starting. Numerous studies found that astaxanthin can prevent the start of breast, colon and possibly other cancers from starting. Even more, studies have found that Astaxanthin can inhibit the growth of prostate cancer.
A 2018 study found that treatment with astaxanthin "is an effective method of reducing the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells. Astaxanthin has shown demonstrated a consistent ability to reduce multiple types of cancer."
The study also found that astaxanthin did not affect the healthy cells or the cells ability to migrate and proliferate and the healthy cells could fill the void left by the dead cancer cells in a healing process [6].
Astaxanthin and Asthma
In vitro studies found that a combination of astaxanthin and ginkgo biloba reduced the T-cell activation in asthma as well as and in some cases better than the commonly used antihistamines Zyrtec (cetirizine dihydrochloride) and Astalin (phytohemaglutinin). The combination of astaxanthin and ginkgo biloba could have use as an anti-asthmatic formula [7].
Astaxanthin Helps with Gastritis and Peptic Ulcers
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are bacteria that many of us have in our stomachs, though many of us do not get sick from it. H. pylori infections can cause peptic ulcers, type B gastritis, and gastric cancer.
Studies found that astaxanthin caused a significant reduction in reflux symptoms (GERD). This reduction was more pronounced in H. pylori-infected patients [8].
Other studies with mice found that astaxanthin inhibited the growth of H. pylori bacteria in the stomach [9].
Eye Health and Astaxanthin
Studies also found that astaxanthin is healthy for the eyes and can possibly prevent cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Xanthophylls, which astaxanthin is a part of, were found to protect the eyes from UV damage from the sun better than vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) [10].
More Health Benefits of Astaxanthin
The book “Natural Astaxanthin: King of Carotenoids” written by Bob Capelli with Dr. Gerald Cysewski covers many health benefits of astaxanthin including helping with carpal tunnel syndrome, endurance, rheumatoid arthritis, and tendonitis.
According to this book, astaxanthin is 14 times stronger than vitamin E, 54 times stronger than beta-carotene and 65 times stronger than vitamin C [11].
Buying Astaxanthin Supplements
There are many name brand companies now selling astaxanthin supplements. The astaxanthin supplements I looked at were made of algae or Haematococcus pluvialis (H. pluvialis), which is algae that contains the highest concentration of astaxanthin.
Astaxanthin made from phaffia yeast is usually used only for feed in farm-raised salmon to give the salmon their color, and not for humans. You should not take synthetic forms of astaxanthin supplements, stick with reputable supplement brands. Taking 4-10 mg each day is the recommended dose.
Astaxanthin Conclusion
Astaxanthin could be one of the most potent antioxidants. The best way to get natural astaxanthin is from wild salmon, which is reported to have 400 times more natural astaxanthin than farmed salmon does.
Eating a healthy diet that contains many different vegetables, whole grains, fruit is still one of the best ways to get plenty of phytochemicals and antioxidants. Since those that eat a plant-based diet, eating salmon is out of the question, if you wish, taking a astaxanthin supplement is fine. Make your diet colorful, which will ensure you are eating many varieties of vegetables and healthy foods.
Note: Always check with your doctor before taking any supplements. Supplements taken with any type of medications can be dangerous.
About the Author
Sam Montana is a certified Food Over Medicine instructor from the Wellness Forum Health Center and certified in optimal nutrition from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Copyright © 2012-2019 Sam Montana
References and Resources
[2] PubMed: Antioxidant effect of astaxanthin on phospholipid peroxidation in human erythrocytes. British Journal of Nutrition 2011 Jun;105(11):1563-71. Epub 2011 Jan 31 [3] PubMed: Astaxanthin ameliorates features of metabolic syndrome in SHR/NDmcr-cp. Life Sci. 2007 Jan 16;80(6):522-9. Epub 2006 Oct 12
[4] PubMed: Cosmetic benefits of astaxanthin on humans subjects. Acta Biochim Pol 2012 Mar 17
[5] PubMed: Modulatory effects of an algal extract containing astaxanthin on UVA-irradiated cells in culture. J Dermatol Sci. 2002 Oct;30(1):73-84
[6] PubMed: Effects of Astaxanthin on the Proliferation and Migration of Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro
[7] PubMed: In vitro effects of astaxanthin combined with ginkgolide B on T lymphocyte activation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from asthmatic subjects. J Pharmacol Sci. 2004 Feb;94(2):129-36
[8] PubMed: Efficacy of the natural antioxidant astaxanthin in the treatment of functional dyspepsia in patients with or without Helicobacter pylori infection. Phytomedicine. 2008 Jun;15(6-7):391-9. Epub 2008 May 7
[9] PubMed: Astaxanthin-Rich Algal Meal and Vitamin C Inhibit Helicobacter pylori Infection in BALB/cA Mice. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2000 September; 44(9): 2452–2457
[10] PubMed: Xanthophylls and alpha-tocopherol decrease UVB-induced lipid peroxidation and stress signaling in human lens epithelial cells. J Nutr. 2004 Dec;134(12):3225-32
[11] Natural Astaxanthin: King of Carotenoids by Bob Capelli
