Supplements & functional ingredients
Astaxanthin has the strongest effect on skin when taken orally.
Meanwhile, the carotenoid’s effect on exercise performance is hardly in doubt, assuming you’re a salmon. Astaxanthin allows them to achieve astonishing feats – swimming non-stop for a week through raging rivers – through staving off oxidative damage in their muscle cells. While astaxanthin probably won’t help the average human to swim the Channel, it may help with strength, endurance and recovery.
“The antioxidant strength of astaxanthin has been compared to other carotenoids and it has always been shown to be much greater.”
2011 Gatorade 18
In a 2011 study sponsored by Gatorade, competitive cyclists taking 4mg of astaxanthin for four weeks saw a 5% improvement in a cycling time trial. Another study found that athletes taking astaxanthin registered a drop in lactic acid, while yet another found a reduction in oxidative stress among elite male soccer players. A 2018 review was a little more muted in its conclusions. It stated that, though animal studies have shown positive results, there isn’t enough evidence to say for sure whether those benefits are replicable in humans. “The current efficacy surrounding astaxanthin supplementation in exercising humans is somewhat equivocal. This is evidenced by the limited number of well-controlled scientific investigations in this research area,” wrote the authors.
A study from this year demonstrated that competitive cyclists taking 4mg of astaxanthin for four weeks saw a 5% improvement in a cycling time trial.
Because of its antioxidant properties, astaxanthin may play a role in preventing and treating various ocular diseases. Studies suggest it might serve a protective function against eyestrain, as well as improving retinal blood flow and visual acuity. It may also be effective in staving off cataracts and macular degeneration. However, it’s important to recognise that this research is at an early stage, meaning that additional research into the carotenoid’s influence on
ocular health is required. A 2020 review found broadly positive results, but advised that: “further long-term clinical trials are warranted”. Likewise, Astaxanthin has also been touted as inducing protective effects on heart health, again due to a reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation. For instance, it might help support healthy blood flow, and help the body maintain normal levels of cholesterol. However, most of the studies in the field are small and many fail to show a significant effect. Lastly, since boosting our immune system has acquired a new urgency in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, some consumers are taking astaxanthin for its notional effects on immune health. Again, the evidence base in humans is fairly limited, but there are a few studies that point in this direction. The thinking is that, since immune cells are particularly sensitive to oxidative stress, a potent antioxidant may go some way to reducing that damage.
Turning the tide
While we should take some of the ‘wonder supplement’ claims with a pinch of salt, it’s clear that astaxanthin holds promise across a number of application areas. What’s more, consumers can rest assured that it is safe and won’t bring undesirable side effects. Further research is already underway to establish precisely how this unique pigment operates within the body and what further benefits it could bring to users. As the trade organisation for producers of natural astaxanthin, NAXA is always working to expand the evidence base. It is currently working on two studies, both due for completion by the end of 2021. “The first looks at different forms of astaxanthin on a molecular level” says Levine. “The second compares four forms and their effects on anti-inflammatory response. We are already seeing some differences in the preliminary results, and we hope to have full results soon.”
Looking towards 2022 and beyond, he would like to see still more research initiated. “We plan to continue to provide consumers with accurate information about HP astaxanthin so that they can make informed choices,” he says. “I would invite people within the natural products industry, as well as consumers, to visit NAXA’s website to find more information; with links to a book as well as many studies covering a wide range of subjects.” It wouldn’t be surprising if, in years to come, astaxanthin becomes much better known, with name recognition to rival omega-3 or CoQ10. For the time being, its many loyal users continue to swear by its benefits. This isn’t a bad outcome for a humble algal protein that originated as a reddish tinge in a rock pool. ●
Ingredients Insight /
www.ingredients-insight.com
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