Astaxanthin for Immune Health
The immune system is a complex network of specialized cells and organs that work together to protect the body against infections from bacteria, viruses and other outside invaders. Your immune system is a defensive barrier inside your body.
As we age, the activity of the immune system declines and becomes more vulnerable to oxidative stress. The most pronounced decline is found in cell-mediated immune response, especially a decline in the proliferation capacity in T-lymphocytes. T-lymphocytes protect the body and destroy infected cells.
Natural astaxanthin, known for its exceptional antioxidant powers has a strong ability to both balance and strengthen the immune system, hence improving the defense against inflammation and outside invaders (pathogens).
B cell phagocytes are cells that ingest and destroy harmful pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. While T cell lymphocytes assist antibody release, destroy virus-infected cells and help to remember and recognize previous invaders. Natural astaxanthin seems to increase the count of these two major components of the immune response (the B lymphocytes and the T phagocytes.)
In a double-blind, randomized study, 42 individuals received 2 or 8 mg of astaxanthin per day or a placebo over a period of 8 weeks. The lymphocyte count was significantly increased for the group taking the astaxanthin supplement, compared to the placebo group. Furthermore, individuals receiving astaxanthin demonstrated natural killer cell activity not found in the placebo group. These results suggest that supplementation with astaxanthin could be beneficial for the promotion of overall health.
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