Astaxanthin is potentially the most powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory for the prevention and treatment of eye disease.
What are the health benefits of taking astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin is a nutrient of the carotenoid group. Similar to the other carotenoids, astaxanthin has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune stimulating effects. Studies indicate that it is the most powerful of the carotenoid anti-oxidants.
Although it has not been as thoroughly studied as other carotenoids, it has possible beneficial effects for cancer treatment, cardiovascular health, memory and brain function, skin anti-aging, and eye health.
Astaxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin are carotenoids that are not converted to vitamin A. This is important for those that are sensitive to the effects of vitamin A. (Stargardt’s disease)
It is important to understand astaxanthin bioactivity to understand how it can benefit eye health:
1. Anti-oxidant Activity
The carotenoids are important as a nutrient for their anti-oxidant capability to neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are unstable, molecules made by the process of cellular metabolism, that have the potential to damage the cells. When there is an excessive amount of free radical formation, the potential for cellular damage is called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the underlying cause of disease and aging.
One study was able to measure anti-oxidant activities among several other known anti-oxidants, astaxanthin, lycopene, lutein, vitamin E, α and β-carotene. The study reported that astaxanthin was one of the highest performing anti-oxidants. (Ref: Antioxidant activities of astaxanthin..
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Researchers have found that astaxanthin exhibits a unique anti-oxidant properties. While most anti-oxidants perform their duties either on the inside of a cell or the outside of the cell membrane, astaxanthin has the unique capability to span the cell membrane to scavenge for free radicals on both sides. This helps to maintain the integrity of that cell membrane. (Ref; Astaxanthin, cell membrane nutrient ...)
Light entering the eye, is a source for the formation of the damaging reactive oxygen species(ROS, which is free radical plus a non-free radical oxygen.) Because of its effective and specialized anti-oxidant capabilities, this supplement has important implications for those with eye disease, to decrease cellular damage and death.
2. Anti-inflammatory Activity
Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, toxins, and radiation. This response by the cells of the body is a beneficial defense mechanism that contributes to the healing process of the body. Sometimes, however, inflammation over-reacts and may become chronic. This ongoing inflammation may not be the cause of a disease, but contributes to the disease process, rather than resolving it. Examples of disease processes made worse by inflammation: inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, diabetes, and uveitis.
The anti-inflammatory capability of astaxanthin is thought to be its ability to target those substances and enzymes produced by cellular inflammatory response. It acts to inhibit and suppress formation of many inflammatory substances.
Ongoing research is looking at the anti-inflammatory benefits of astaxanthin:
- Neuro-degenerative diseases: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and diabetes mellitus
- Chronic organ diseases: inflammatory bowel disease, inflammatory liver, and kidney disease
- Chronic infectious diseases; H. pylori (gastrointestinal),
- Anti-aging; skin.
(Ref: Astaxanthin and its Effect in Inflammatory….)
3. Immune-Enhancing Activity
Studies indicate that astaxanthin influences immune function. It has been shown to increase immunoglobulin production (antibodies) and immune cell responses. In animal studies, it has been shown to increase T-cell and natural killer cell activity.
Because of its immune enhancing capability, it is thought that it may play a role reducing immune suppression caused by UV radiation. This is significant in the study of skin cancers caused by sun UV exposure. (Ref: Astaxanthin in Skin Health…)
How Astaxanthin Benefits the Eye
The benefits of astaxanthin for eye health is still in the early stages, but recent data suggests that it is effective in treating and preventing eye diseases.
Lutein and zeaxanthin are the two carotenoids studied in the second Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS 2). These two carotenoids comprise the macular pigment.
Astaxanthin has been studied in smaller research projects, and not as extensively as these other carotenoids. It is not found to be concentrated in the macula. It may be as important to eye health as the other carotenoids because it has a more powerful anti-oxidant.
Several Eye diseases that may benefit from astaxanthin supplementation
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
The macula is the central area of the retina in the back of the eye that is responsible for our capability to see fine line and detail. This area has a high demand for oxygen and energy. Because of its high metabolic activity, light exposure, and oxygen use, it is subject to oxidative stress (lots of free radical formation.)
Oxidative stress and an accumulation of metabolic by- products results in an accumulation of drusen. The lipofusin of the drusen is toxic to the supporting cells of the retina. These cells, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), die off, along with the photoreceptors they support and results in subsequent vision loss. This is the degeneration process of AMD.
Because astaxanthin is an anti-oxidant and has been shown to have UV absorbing capabilities, it is thought to benefit those with age related macular degeneration by reducing oxidative stress.
In another study, using mice,, it was shown that astaxanthin could suppress the growth of new, leaky blood vessels responsible for accelerating wet macular degeneration. (Ref; Inhibition of choroidal neovascularization…)
Concerned about Macular degeneration? See: How to Decrease the Risk of Age Related Eye Disease
Diabetic retinopathy
The retinas of those with diabetic retinopathy are subject to oxidative stress and inflammation. Hyperglycemia in the tissues of the retina creates a cascade of glycation end products, resulting in oxidative stress and blood vessel dysfunction. If blood is not getting to the retina, ganglion cells of the retina begin to die.
Several animal studies have shown that astaxanthin reduces the oxidative stress and is neuroprotective. It also acts to decrease the inflammatory cascade. This activity can prevent the formation of choroidal neovascular nets(leaky blood vessels beneath the retina.) These vascular growths of leaky blood vessels are devastating to vision and the predominant cause of blindness for diabetics.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is the result of elevated IOP, which leads to decreased blood flow to the retina. The decreased flow to the retina results in retinal ganglion cell death and loss of visual field and visual acuity. The treatments for glaucoma are targeted eye pressure lowering medications.
Astaxanthin may play a role in protecting the nerves of the retina because of its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities
Cataracts
Normally, the lens of the eye is clear. Cataract development is any opacity of the natural lens. The most common cause of cataracts is aging, occurring after a lifetime of UV exposure, smoking, poor diet, and/or steroid use. Diabetes and trauma to the eye can also result in cataracts.
These events can cause oxidative stress to the eye and lens, resulting in changes to the protein matrix of the lens. The proteins are modified and aggregate, resulting in spots, vacuoles, clefts, and color changes..
Recent studies have shown that there is a delay in development and prevention of cataracts, when supplemented with astaxanthin because of its anti-oxidant activity..
Ocular Surface Disease
The surface of the eye is the cornea (clear) and conjunctiva (whites). The front surface is subject to sunlight (UV exposure)and environmental assault (particles in the air), throughout our life.
It is inflammation and oxidative stress that eventually cause a process called dry eye disease. Symptoms range from uncomfortable to painful eyes.
The meibomian glands of the eyes, when inflamed produce little and poor quality tears. With inadequate tears, the epithelium of the delicate tissues of the eye undergo oxidative stress and inflammation.
Studies done involving supplements for dry eye disease included astaxanthin among other anti-oxidants. Supplementing with a combination of anti-oxidants for 8 to 16 weeks improved tear quality and stability and resolved corneal epithelial disruption.
Eye Strain
Eye strain or eye fatigue is a problem for those working each day on computer technology. Those with low vision are especially troubled by eye fatigue, straining to use low vision devices. Symptoms include; discomfort, headaches, pain, blur, and tearing.
A study was done giving computer workers 5 mg once a day for 4 weeks. The participants claimed “significant relief from eyestrain.” In another study, a group in their 40’s experienced improvement in focusing at near.
Researchers thought that it is the relaxing effect on the internal ciliary muscle of the eye and increased blood flow to the retinal vessels that accounted for the improvement of eye fatigue symptoms. . (Interestingly, the studies were all Japanese.)
What foods are high in astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin is made by small one cell microalgae, phytoplankton, yeast, and bacteria, Which is then a food source for small water creatures called zooplankton and crustaceans These micro-animals are consumed and the astaxanthin accumulate in seafood including algae, shrimp, krill, lobster, asteroidean (sea stars), crustacean, trout, and salmon.
Like many other carotenoids, astaxanthin is a pigment molecule. You can actually see the red color of astaxanthin in the pink shrimp, salmon, and lobster. Astaxanthin has been credited with making flamingoes pink, because of the shrimp they eat.
The Best Astaxanthin Supplements
Astaxanthin has properties that suggest that it’s anti-oxidant potential may be the most potent among carotenoids. It is not generally included in those vitamins that are labeled eye vitamins.
Because of the expense of naturally produced astaxanthin, the majority of supplements available are synthetically made from petrochemicals. The synthetic astaxanthin is used primarily for feeding marine animals to give them the desirable red-orange coloring.
Only a small part of commercial astaxanthin is extracted from natural sources. These are from cultivated algae and yeast, or other astaxanthin-producing biological organisms. Only the naturally extracted astaxanthin is approved for use in supplements. You will note that on the supplement bottle it indicates alga Haematococcus pluvialis as the natural source, because it is considered to have the highest capacity to accumulate astaxanthin.
How much astaxanthin should I take daily?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved astaxanthin from the algae H. pluvialis for supplementation dosages up to 12 mg per day and up to 24 mg per day for no more than 30 days.
A quote from the European Food Safety Authority: (Feb. 2020)
“The Panel concludes that an intake of 8 mg ATX per day from food supplements is safe for adults even in combination with the high exposure estimate to ATX from the background diet.”
Most human trial studies used dosages of 4 to 12 mg per day. Astaxanthin can be found commercially as a lone supplement, but is thought to be most effective when combined with other nutrients.
The best way to get astaxanthin is in its natural form by ingesting seafood. It is estimated that farmed Atlantic salmon was reported as 6–8 mg/kg flesh (2.2 lbs). For example, eating a 165 g (5.6 oz) salmon will provide an average of about 3.6 mg astaxanthin. (Ref: Astaxanthin: Sources…)
When to Take Astaxanthin
The carotenoids are lipids (fat soluble molecules.) The absorption of astaxanthin is enhanced by the fat in the foods ingested. This suggests that astaxanthin is best taken with a meal containing some dietary fats
What are the side effects of taking astaxanthin?
There is not much data implicating toxic side effects of astaxanthin. The conclusion of numerous studies were that it is a safe nutraceutical. One study treated patients with 40 mg daily for 4 weeks with no apparent side effects. (A study on the effects against stomach H. pylori.) This is considered research level of dosage. Best to stay with FDA or European Medicines Agency recommendations.
The synthetic astaxanthin produced from petrochemicals has not been studied for safe human consumption. The synthetic version has been shown to not be as effective as an anti-oxidant as astaxanthin naturally sourced. Supplements will and should be extracted from natural sources such as microalgae, Haematococcus pluvialis. Watch for synthetic astaxanthin to be labeled as ‘nature identical.’
The Eye Vitamins that include Astaxanthin
AREDS 2 Plus by HealthHappiness 6 mg astaxanthin ((plus Vit C,E, zinc, copper, lutein, zeaxanthin, Fish oils (DHA,EPA)
Vision Alive Max by Holistic Health Labs includes astaxanthin (plus anthocyanins, lutein, zeaxanthin, and saffron.)
VisionMD by 1MD 4 mg astaxanthin plus lutein, zeazanthin, ‘mixed carotenoids,’ Vitamin E, and lycopene.)
OptiWell byLiveWell 4 mg astaxanthin (plus lutein, zeazanthanin, Vitamin E)
Swanson ultra Vision Defense by Swanson 4 mg astaxanthin (plus lutein, zeaxanthin, bilberry, and ‘broccoli extract.’)
Liquid 20/20 Vision by Tropical Oasis 4 mg astaxanthin (plus Vitamins A,C,E, zinc, lutein Zeaxanthin.)
All Natural Eye Support by Peak Performance 2mg astaxanthin (plus bilberry, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lutein.)
Eye Protector by Pure Synergy 515 mg carotenoids of which 2 mg is astaxanthin, 500 mg flavonoids, 50 mg enxymes.
Looking at this list, you can expect 2 to 4 mg of astaxanthin for these multi-supplements. Only the AREDS 2 Plus by HealthHappiness had 6 mg. Supplements that are 8 to 12 mg are usually sold as astaxanthin only.
Want to learn more, see our other article: 3 Most Commonly Recommended Supplements for Prevention of AMD
In the end…
Astaxanthin is the most powerful of the carotenoid anti-oxidants. We know that inflammation and oxidative stress underlie or are the cause of disease. This potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity has been demonstrated in many animal and human clinical trials. Researchers study astaxanthin exploring potential roles for human health, both for treatment and prevention.
A good reference:
Clinical Applications of Astaxanthin in the Treatment of Ocular Diseases: Emerging Insights Published 2020 may in Marine Drugs