The recommended dosage of astaxanthin is 6-12 mg/day. Improved athletic performance and muscle recovery from exercise has been demonstrated at 6 mg/day using AstaReal astaxanthin. Improved results in promoting cardiovascular health and supporting cognitive function have been observed at 12 mg/day.
You can take astaxanthin any time of the day, as long as you take it together with a meal to improve absorption. Astaxanthin is absorbed in the intestine and reaches maximum levels in the blood stream within 7-10 hours after ingestion. The bloodstream delivers astaxanthin throughout the body where it gets absorbed by tissues and protects them from free radicals produced by metabolic and environmental stress.
Astaxanthin is made by the algae Haematoccous pluvialis in response to stresses that produce free radicals. Astaxanthin is called a “secondary carotenoid” because algae make it using beta-carotene as one of the starting materials for making astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is fat-loving organic hydrocarbon with the chemical formula C40H52O4. It has a central chain of carbons with alternating single and double bonds (also known as conjugated double bonds), which is a special structure that allows astaxanthin to neturalize free radicals. The oxygen-containing rings at each end of the astaxanthin molecule fit on the edges of cell membranes, giving astaxanthin the unique ability to span the whole membrane for full protection from free radical damage.
Astaxanthin is vegetarian, since it is derived from the green alga called Haematococcus pluvialis, which is an aquatic single celled plant. The gel capsules come in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. The non-vegetarian capsules contain bovine gelatin and beeswax. The vegetarian capsules contain Non-GMO modified cornstarch, carrageenan, glycerin, and sorbitol.
Astaxanthin is vegan, since it is derived from the green alga called Haematococcus pluvialis, which is an aquatic single celled plant. The gel capsules come in both vegan and non-vegan options. The non-vegan capsules contain bovine gelatin and beeswax. The vegan capsules contain Non-GMO modified cornstarch, carrageenan, glycerin, and sorbitol.
No, astaxanthin does not contain animals. Astaxanthin is a natural red antioxidant that is extracted from a green algae, which is a member of the plant kingdom.
Algae are aquatic organisms that use photosynthesis to grow. Some algae, including Haematococcus pluvialis, are single-celled organisms called microalgae. Some algae, like seaweeds, are made of many cells. There are different groups of algae, including green algae, red algae and brown algae. Green algae, including Haematococcus pluvialis, are related to land plants. Other algae are not directly related to plants, but are members of a sister group.
Astaxanthin is the strongest antioxidant found in nature and its health benefits extent to many conditions whose root cause is damage from free radicals.
You can take astaxanthin together with other supplements. There are no known contraindications for astaxanthin in healthy adults. However, if you have particular health concerns, you should discuss them with your healthcare provider before supplementing with astaxanthin.