Supplement encyclopedia

ASTAXANTHIN

Name: ASTAXANTHIN
Creator: Pillintrip Editorial Team

Written by Pillintrip Editorial Team Updated October 30, 2026

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid. The amount of astaxanthin itself and the extract composition matter when comparing products.

Recheck the conclusions and examine the sources before choosing a supplement.

Main conclusion

Potential benefits

Astaxanthin shows preliminary signals for individual skin measures and visual fatigue. Overall improvements in memory and sports performance are inconsistent; the small positive sports experiment used a high experimental dose. [1] [2] [3] [4]

What was studied

Skin hydration and elasticity: 16 weeks; Time to exhaustion during exercise: Four days; crossover comparison; Eye fatigue after screen use: Six weeks; Memory and reaction speed: 12 weeks. [1] [2] [3] [4]

How to obtain it from food

Effects and studied questions

Goal or question	Result	Confidence	Studies	Population studied	Key sources
Skin hydration and elasticity	A possible effect concerns individual skin measures; study doses are not a universal regimen.The main between-group comparisons and subgroup analyses gave different results. Positive changes in individual measures do not constitute an overall confirmed skin improvement in all participants.	2/5	1One direct trial described; the count refers to the named publication, not the entire literature.Protective effects of astaxanthin on skin deterioration ↗	65 women	Protective effects of astaxanthin on skin deterioration ↗
Time to exhaustion during exercise	The positive result is too narrow to support routine use: the dose exceeds the 8 mg/day in EFSA's assessment for adults.Time to exhaustion: 85.41 versus 72.11 minutes, a difference of about 13.3 minutes. This is a laboratory test, not a competition time.	1/5	1One direct trial described; the count refers to the named publication, not the entire literature.Effect of astaxanthin supplementation on cycling performance, muscle damage biomarkers and oxidative stress in young adults: a randomized controlled trial ↗	Ten physically active men	Effect of astaxanthin supplementation on cycling performance, muscle damage biomarkers and oxidative stress in young adults: a randomized controlled trial ↗
Eye fatigue after screen use	Only a preliminary subgroup signal can be described, rather than a general eye benefit.Overall comparisons showed no convincing advantage. The signal after screen exposure concerned the subgroup aged 40 and older.	2/5	1One direct trial described; the count refers to the named publication, not the entire literature.Effects of diet containing astaxanthin on visual function in healthy individuals: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study ↗	60 adults at risk of visual fatigue	Effects of diet containing astaxanthin on visual function in healthy individuals: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study ↗
Memory and reaction speed	This experiment showed no convincing gain in overall memory or reaction speed.The CogHealth battery showed no convincing between-group advantage. Improvements relative to participants' own initial test are not equivalent to an advantage over placebo.	2/5	1One direct trial described; the count refers to the named publication, not the entire literature.Effects of astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus pluvialis extract on cognitive function: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study ↗	96 adults with subjective forgetfulness	Effects of astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus pluvialis extract on cognitive function: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study ↗

The study count refers to the cited source. Reviews with overlapping trials and outcomes from one study are not added together.

Guidance for each goal

Skin hydration and elasticity

Confidence2/5

A possible effect concerns individual skin measures; study doses are not a universal regimen.

Study findings. The main between-group comparisons and subgroup analyses gave different results. Positive changes in individual measures do not constitute an overall confirmed skin improvement in all participants.

Studied regimen6 or 12 mg/dayOral astaxanthin

Duration and population16 weeks65 women

The confidence scale assesses the reliability of this conclusion, not the probability of an individual result.

Time to exhaustion during exercise

Confidence1/5

The positive result is too narrow to support routine use: the dose exceeds the 8 mg/day in EFSA's assessment for adults.

Study findings. Time to exhaustion: 85.41 versus 72.11 minutes, a difference of about 13.3 minutes. This is a laboratory test, not a competition time.

Studied regimen28 mg/day in the experimentOral astaxanthin

Duration and populationFour days; crossover comparisonTen physically active men

The confidence scale assesses the reliability of this conclusion, not the probability of an individual result.

Eye fatigue after screen use

Confidence2/5

Only a preliminary subgroup signal can be described, rather than a general eye benefit.

Study findings. Overall comparisons showed no convincing advantage. The signal after screen exposure concerned the subgroup aged 40 and older.

Studied regimen9 mg/dayOral astaxanthin

Duration and populationSix weeks60 adults at risk of visual fatigue

The confidence scale assesses the reliability of this conclusion, not the probability of an individual result.

Memory and reaction speed

Confidence2/5

This experiment showed no convincing gain in overall memory or reaction speed.

Study findings. The CogHealth battery showed no convincing between-group advantage. Improvements relative to participants' own initial test are not equivalent to an advantage over placebo.

Studied regimen6 or 12 mg of astaxanthin/dayHaematococcus pluvialis extract containing astaxanthin

Duration and population12 weeks96 adults with subjective forgetfulness

The confidence scale assesses the reliability of this conclusion, not the probability of an individual result.

How to read the confidence scale 1–5

The rating considers study quality, directness and applicability to the stated group and regimen. It is an editorial scale, not the probability of an individual result.

Safety and limitations

Extract weight is not astaxanthin weight; source and form matter. A case of a sharp INR increase and bruising with warfarin and other medicines has been reported; causality was not established. Concurrent use with warfarin requires professional agreement. Adult safety assessments do not apply to children, pregnancy or breastfeeding. Discuss the combination before starting if taking warfarin. EFSA's adult model considered an 8 mg/day supplement with background dietary intake; this is a safety assessment for a specified scenario, not an effective dose for every goal.

Safety of astaxanthin for its use as a novel food in food supplements ↗ · Comparative Pharmacokinetic Study of Standard Astaxanthin and its Micellar Formulation in Healthy Male Volunteers ↗ · Interaction between warfarin and astaxanthin: A case report ↗ · Astaxanthin (AstaReal(®)) Improved Acute and Chronic Digital Eye Strain in Children: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial ↗

Forms

Haematococcus extract: Check the milligrams of astaxanthin itself, not the total extract weight. Oil-based and other capsule formulations: Differences in blood concentrations do not establish superior clinical effects. Other microbial sources and mixtures: Composition and accompanying carotenoids differ; applying the findings requires a matching preparation.

Food sources

Astaxanthin comes mainly from seafood and salmonid fish. Studied sockeye salmon flesh samples contained 2.6–3.8 mg per 100 g, and coho salmon 1.0–2.1 mg per 100 g. Content varies by species and farming conditions. Shrimp, crabs, lobsters, crayfish and krill also contain astaxanthin. Values for the whole animal, shell or dry biomass are not equivalent to 100 g of edible flesh. The table below retains the source's wet flesh weight basis; it should not be used to calculate a supplement dose or the calories in a prepared dish.

Food	Group	Amount	Serving	Calories	Sources
Sockeye salmonwet flesh weight in the source	Salmonids	2.6–3.8 mg / 100 g	150 g · 3.9–5.7 mg	—	Structures of Astaxanthin and Their Consequences for Therapeutic Application ↗
Coho salmonwet flesh weight in the source	Salmonids	1–2.1 mg / 100 g	150 g · 1.5–3.15 mg	—	Structures of Astaxanthin and Their Consequences for Therapeutic Application ↗
Atlantic salmonwet flesh weight in the source	Salmonids	0.6–0.8 mg / 100 g	150 g · 0.8999999999999999–1.2 mg	—	Structures of Astaxanthin and Their Consequences for Therapeutic Application ↗
Chinook salmonwet flesh weight in the source	Salmonids	0.54–0.54 mg / 100 g	150 g · 0.81–0.81 mg	—	Structures of Astaxanthin and Their Consequences for Therapeutic Application ↗
Chum salmonwet flesh weight in the source	Salmonids	0.3–0.5 mg / 100 g	150 g · 0.44999999999999996–0.75 mg	—	Structures of Astaxanthin and Their Consequences for Therapeutic Application ↗
Masu salmonwet flesh weight in the source	Salmonids	0.45999999999999996–0.45999999999999996 mg / 100 g	150 g · 0.69–0.69 mg	—	Structures of Astaxanthin and Their Consequences for Therapeutic Application ↗
Pink salmonwet flesh weight in the source	Salmonids	0.4–0.7 mg / 100 g	150 g · 0.6–1.05 mg	—	Structures of Astaxanthin and Their Consequences for Therapeutic Application ↗
Rainbow troutwet flesh weight in the source	Salmonids	2.4–2.4 mg / 100 g	150 g · 3.5999999999999996–3.5999999999999996 mg	—	Structures of Astaxanthin and Their Consequences for Therapeutic Application ↗

Structures of Astaxanthin and Their Consequences for Therapeutic Application ↗

Studies

Publication	What was studied	Participants	Form and dose	Result
Protective effects of astaxanthin on skin deterioration ↗	Skin hydration and elasticity	65 women	Oral astaxanthin: 6 or 12 mg/day. 16 weeks	The main between-group comparisons and subgroup analyses gave different results. Positive changes in individual measures do not constitute an overall confirmed skin improvement in all participants.
Effect of astaxanthin supplementation on cycling performance, muscle damage biomarkers and oxidative stress in young adults: a randomized controlled trial ↗	Time to exhaustion during exercise	Ten physically active men	Oral astaxanthin: 28 mg/day in the experiment. Four days; crossover comparison	Time to exhaustion: 85.41 versus 72.11 minutes, a difference of about 13.3 minutes. This is a laboratory test, not a competition time.
Effects of diet containing astaxanthin on visual function in healthy individuals: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study ↗	Eye fatigue after screen use	60 adults at risk of visual fatigue	Oral astaxanthin: 9 mg/day. Six weeks	Overall comparisons showed no convincing advantage. The signal after screen exposure concerned the subgroup aged 40 and older.
Effects of astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus pluvialis extract on cognitive function: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study ↗	Memory and reaction speed	96 adults with subjective forgetfulness	Haematococcus pluvialis extract containing astaxanthin: 6 or 12 mg of astaxanthin/day. 12 weeks	The CogHealth battery showed no convincing between-group advantage. Improvements relative to participants' own initial test are not equivalent to an advantage over placebo.

ASTAXANTHIN

Main conclusion

Potential benefits

What was studied

How to obtain it from food

Effects and studied questions

Guidance for each goal

Skin hydration and elasticity

Time to exhaustion during exercise

Eye fatigue after screen use

Memory and reaction speed

Safety and limitations

Forms

Food sources

Studies

Sources