AST · ASX · Haematococcus pluvialis extract · microalgae carotenoid
4 mg · vegan · gluten-free · 90 caps
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Astaxanthin is a keto-carotenoid produced by the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis and accumulated in salmon, krill, and shrimp. It spans the cell membrane bilayer, providing unique antioxidant protection to both lipid and aqueous compartments.
Astaxanthin's conjugated polyene chain quenches singlet oxygen and scavenges free radicals without becoming pro-oxidant. Its terminal rings position it across the membrane bilayer, protecting both the inner and outer membrane surfaces. It also modulates NF-κB signaling to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine production.
Adults seeking antioxidant protection, individuals with high sun exposure, athletes with oxidative stress, older adults with age-related decline.
People with carotenoid sensitivity (rare), those taking high-dose beta-carotene (theoretical competition), individuals with shellfish allergies (if krill-derived), pregnant or breastfeeding women (insufficient safety data at high doses).
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✓ Morning with fat-containing meal for optimal absorption
✓ Fat-containing meal essential for carotenoid absorption
Astaxanthin's conjugated polyene chain quenches singlet oxygen and scavenges free radicals without becoming pro-oxidant.
Each bar = one cited trial. Effect varies by methodology, dose, and population.
Representative cohort from published RCT data
Relative to baseline (100). Data from published clinical literature.
see study
→ 8 mg/day for 8 weeks increased T-cells, NK cells, IFN-γ, and IL-2 in healthy young women (N=42, dose-dependent)
see study
→ 6 mg/day oral + topical improved wrinkles, age spots, elasticity, and skin texture (N=30 women + 36 men, 6–8 weeks)
see study
→ 5 mg/day reduced MDA by 34.6% and isoprostane by 64.9%; increased SOD by 193% and TAC by 121% (N=23, 3 weeks)
B · Strong immune and oxidative stress biomarker data; skin photoprotection is partial (~20–30% MED increase); most skin trials commercially funded
A plain-English read of the literature behind this supplement. Not a clinical recommendation.
Key citations: PMID 22214261 (Park 2010, oxidative stress RCT), PMID 25871104 (Fassett 2011, cardiovascular review), PMID 23244585 (Miyawaki 2008, lipid profile RCT n=61).
How to use Astaxanthin specifically for oxidative stress — the right dose, timing, blood markers to track, and how to know if it is working.
A clinical evidence review of Astaxanthin — RCT data, effect sizes, evidence grade, and what the numbers mean for your specific situation.
Everything you need to know about Astaxanthin — mechanism, dose, safety, buying guide for India, and what the research actually says.
SacredBod's longer take on Astaxanthin — context the structured blocks above don't capture.
Astaxanthin is marketed with one of the most inflated claims in the supplement industry: that it is “6,000 times stronger than vitamin C” or “1,000 times more powerful than vitamin E. These numbers come from in vitro singlet oxygen quenching assays, not from clinical outcome data. In a test tube, astaxanthin does quench singlet oxygen with remarkable efficiency. In a human body, the translation to disease prevention or functional improvement is far more modest. This distinction between biochemical potency and clinical efficacy is essential for honest framing.
The immune evidence is real but limited. Park and colleagues (2010, Nutrition & Metabolism, PMID 20205737) conducted a randomized trial in 42 healthy young women, testing 0, 2, or 8 mg astaxanthin daily for eight weeks. The 8 mg group showed significant increases in total T-cell and natural killer cell counts, enhanced lymphocyte proliferation response, and increased interferon-gamma and IL-2 production—cytokines critical for Th1 immune responses. The effect was dose-dependent and biologically meaningful, though the sample was small and homogeneous (healthy young females). No serious adverse events occurred, establishing safety at this dose.
The skin photoprotection narrative requires similar parsing. Tominaga and colleagues (2012, Acta Biochimica Polonica, PMID 22428137) conducted two studies: an open-label study in 30 women combining 6 mg oral astaxanthin with topical application for 8 weeks, and a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study in 36 men receiving 6 mg oral astaxanthin for 6 weeks. Both showed significant improvements in crow’s feet wrinkles, skin elasticity, and transepidermal water loss. However, astaxanthin is not a sunscreen replacement. It reduces UV damage; it does not prevent it. Marketing that suggests users can skip SPF because they take astaxanthin is misleading and potentially harmful.
The oxidative stress biomarker data is robust. Choi and colleagues (2011, Phytotherapy Research, PMID 21480416) randomized 23 overweight and obese adults to 5 mg or 20 mg astaxanthin daily for three weeks. Both doses significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA, a lipid peroxidation marker) by approximately 35% and isoprostane by approximately 65%, while increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity by approximately 193% and total antioxidant capacity by approximately 122%. Notably, there was no significant difference between the 5 mg and 20 mg doses, suggesting a plateau effect at lower doses. The honest framing: astaxanthin is a safe, bioavailable carotenoid with documented immune-modulating and photoprotective effects at 4–12 mg daily. Claims of dramatic superiority over other antioxidants or disease-curing properties are extrapolated from in vitro data and should be treated with skepticism.
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