Isotonix

Astaxanthin, considered by some researchers to be the most potent known antioxidant, has been receiving attention in the health & nutrition industry recently. The Isotonix Blog will spend the next few days introducing you to this ingredient, which research has shown effective in numerous areas of health.

by Sean Wells / Content Specialist

Like any antioxidant, astaxanthin has the ability to quench the activity of free radicals. By doing so, it is helpful for offsetting the damage they inflict, which is believed to be the underlying cause of a myriad of health concerns. What sets astaxanthin apart from other antioxidants—apart from its sheer potency—is its unique ability to positively affect muscle tissue, including the cardiac muscle. For this reason and many others, astaxanthin shows great potential for the prevention of heart disease.

There is evidence that astaxanthin can help improve cholesterol profiles by decreasing low density lipoprotein (LDL, also known as “bad” cholesterol) and triglycerides, and by increasing high density lipoprotein (HDL,  or “good” cholesterol), as well as lower blood pressure. These benefits have been demonstrated in both human and animal trials.

In 1992, an early study demonstrated that astaxanthin raised HDL, the good cholesterol—a great result on its own, but there was much more to come. In 2000, a clinical trial in Japan found a very promising effect in the decrease of LDL both in test tubes and in human volunteers, making it clear that astaxanthin both decreased the bad and increased the good. This particular study also subdivided test groups into variable dose categories and generally found that the higher the amount of astaxanthin in the system, the greater the potential cardiovascular benefits.

Finally, in 2003, another clinical trial was done in Eastern Europe on men with high cholesterol. Subjects supplemented with 4 mg of astaxanthin for thirty days. At the end of the study, subjects taking astaxanthin showed an average decrease in both total cholesterol and LDL of 17%, and an average decrease of triglycerides of 24%. In an ongoing search for the optimal dose, more recent research has suggested that a slightly higher amount—on the order of 5 or 6mg—might be best.

With regard to blood pressure, astaxanthin offers benefits by positively influencing endothelial function—that is, enabling blood vessels to relax more effectively. In addition, with its potent antioxidant activity reducing general inflammation of all body tissues, astaxanthin reduces the number of inflammatory cells that promote arterial plaque and reduce blood flow. Another study centered on supplementing with 6 mg of astaxanthin per day for only ten days. While scientific studies typically prefer a longer time for their testing, it is perhaps all the more noteworthy that at the end of this ten day period—in other words, a little over 200 hours later—a significant improvement in blood flow had already been discovered in the treatment group.

While it’s true that antioxidants have been discovered with similar cardio-protective properties, never before has one appeared that seems to be so powerful or fast-acting. Despite its status as a newcomer, astaxanthin has thus far shown all the signs of a potential leader in the area of preventative nutrition.