Astaxanthin Supplements - Which is Best?

Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant used in longevity protocols because it appears 100x stronger than vitamin E. Astaxanthin's ability to quench free radicals, increase insulin sensitivity, protect blood vessels, and quiet inflammation make it particularly attractive to support healthy aging. But with natural and synthetic forms of astaxanthin available, what form of astaxanthin supplement is best?

Which Astaxanthin Supplement Form is Best?

Natural astaxanthin from the algae Haematococcus pluvialis is considered superior to synthetic versions. These microalgae represent the most important commercial source for natural astaxanthin. These natural forms, like that found in algae and Antarctic krill, include a fatty acid structure (astaxanthin esters) that demonstrate enhanced stability, antioxidant activity, and bioavailability compared to free astaxanthin. Sustainable extraction methods, particularly supercritical CO₂ extraction, are increasingly common and maintain safety and efficacy.

Astaxanthin Supplement Benefits

Astaxanthin supplements has been shown to help several metabolic conditions in clinical trials:

• High cholesterol: astaxanthin at 12mg/day for 24 weeks has been shown to improve cholesterol markers in patients with pre-diabetes.
  
  • Doses of 18mg/day have also been studied with benefit
• Diabetes: improvements is glucose levels at 8mg/day for 8 weeks
  
  • Blood pressure also decreased in this study of patients with diabetes
  • 10mg/day may provide greater benefits in blood glucose and A1C
• Weight loss: 20mg/day of astaxanthin supplementation with high-intensity training for 12 weeks improved lipid profiles and body composition
• Skin health: typically 4-12mg/day of astaxanthin supplementation, sometimes topically
• Neurologic disease: intriguing possibilities
• Eye health
• Physical performance: through mitochondrial biogenesis, astaxanthin at 12-24mg/day has shown improvement in cycling endurance and 6-minute walk test in the elderly (along with decreased lactate levels)

Astaxanthin Supplement Safety

In its natural form, astaxanthin supplements appear very well tolerated in the trials up to 20mg per day. There are risks with any form of astaxanthin supplementation, though these dangers can be mitigated in discussion with your doctor.

Is an Astaxanthin Supplement Right for You?

Oxidative damage is a hallmark of aging and should be reduced in every healthy aging protocol. Speak with a doctor at Clarus Health to learn how you can optimize your health span with hormone balance, NAD+ and other supplements, including astaxanthin.