Body Wellness

Whole Body Benefits with Natural Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is found throughout the body and provides whole-body benefits by means of four principal mechanisms of action:

1. Antioxidant Action

Astaxanthin’s antioxidant properties help neutralize free radicals that can damage cells. In a head-to-head comparison of singlet oxygen quenching capacity, astaxanthin displayed 6000x the antioxidant capacity of vitamin C.

Furthermore, astaxanthin is a fat-soluble antioxidant with a unique structure that spans the full thickness of the cell membrane. This helps astaxanthin reach and quench free radicals on either side of the membrane periphery and the membrane interior, giving you better antioxidant coverage.

2. Balanced Inflammation Response

Numerous studies have shown that natural astaxanthin has anti-inflammatory properties that may support a balanced inflammation response. For example, in a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study, Park et al. (2010) examined 42 subjects for the systemic inflammation marker, CRP. The treatment group supplemented with 2 mg/day of natural astaxanthin for 8 weeks showed that the levels of CRP were significantly reduced compared to placebo.

3. Support for Healthy Blood Flow

Astaxanthin has been shown to support blood flow, which helps to nourish tissues and remove metabolic wastes throughout the body. When postmenopausal women supplemented with AstaReal® Astaxanthin, a nearly 4% increase in blood vessel compliance was measured using an ankle-brachial index test (Iwabayashi 2009). AstaReal® Astaxanthin supplementation at 6mg and 12mg /day, on average, has been shown to improve retinal capillary blood flow in participants about 40 years of age. Blood flow at the back of the eye is used as an indicator of cardiovascular health. These studies showed a 9-11% increase in retinal blood flow and a 15% increase in retinal blood flow velocity.

In men around 50 years old, supplementation with astaxanthin reduced whole blood transit time through a capillary. The difference was significant in the astaxanthin group compared both to baseline and placebo after 10 days. This suggests that astaxanthin supports healthy blood rheology or flow (Miyawaki 2008). Astaxanthin has also been shown to support a healthy blood lipid profile. In 61 healthy adults, astaxanthin lowered triglyceride levels, and increased HDL levels after 12 weeks of supplementation with 6 and 12 mg/day (Yoshida 2009). 

4. Mitochondrial Nutrient

While astaxanthin loves all membranes, as much as half of all membrane-bound astaxanthin is found in mitochondrial membranes, where it supports mitochondria against oxidative damage, promotes fat utilization for energy, and helps to upregulate the mitochondrial biogenesis pathway. Since mitochondria produce free radicals as a byproduct of energy metabolism, this means that astaxanthin is poised in the right place to quench free radicals at the site where they are first made. Promoting mitochondrial health helps meet the energy demands of nearly every cell in the body, including metabolically active tissues like the eye, brain, and muscle.

Preventative Approach 

The goal of dietary and lifestyle interventions is to maintain and optimize good health. AstaReal® Astaxanthin fits well into a preventative approach by helping our bodies balance free radical production with antioxidant capacity. Dietary antioxidants, like astaxanthin, can help us be more resilient against oxidative stress and promote overall health. While our bodies produce endogenous antioxidants, like glutathione and SOD, these work together with dietary antioxidants like vitamin E, vitamin C, polyphenols, and carotenoids. It’s important to be aware of nutritional gaps that diet alone cannot fill. This is where dietary supplements can play an important role, as one of many tools available to us in promoting a healthy lifestyle. 

AstaReal® Astaxanthin is a natural and science-backed dietary antioxidant to help keep your body strong and healthy.