Does nature hold the secrets to longevity & optimal health?
What if I told you that there’s a pure and organic substance that’s:
- 6,000X stronger than Vitamin C
- 800X stronger than CoQ10
- 550X stronger than Vitamin E
- 550X stronger than Green Tea Catechins
- 40X stronger than Beta-Carotene
- 2.75X stronger than lutein
Years ago, it became popular among Iron Man athletes. Now, it’s becoming a household supplement.
Astaxanthin is nature’s best antioxidant. And it has unique properties that put it in its own category.
Plus, astaxanthin is backed by tons of clinical research.
But, many astaxanthin supplements are notoriously impure and contaminated. So much that entire reports have exposed many low-quality brands.
In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about supplementing astaxanthin. From the best products, to the science, to top biohacks to maximize your benefits.
In a hurry? Jump to the top choices:
Overall: AX3 Bio-Pure Astaxanthin
Organic: Dr. Mercola Organic Astaxanthin
Original: Nutrex BioAstin Hawaiian Astaxanthin 12mg
Strongest: AX3 Bio-Pure Astaxanthin
Cheapest: Bulk Supplements Astaxanthin Softgels
The Best Astaxanthin Supplements of 2024
As the research behind this substance continues to explode, so do the number of brands and products containing astaxanthin.
Unbiased third-party reports confirm that although the market grows, the contents of many of the supplements don’t match the claims on the label.
Unfortunately, some “high-potency” products actually contain zero astaxanthin.
I’ve used this substance for nearly a decade now, and I’ll share some of the best products for your every goal.
AX3 Bio-Pure Astaxanthin
AX3 Bio-Pure Astaxanthin is, hands-down, the best supplement on the market. This company specializes in one substance, and as you’d expect, AX3’s the one endorsed by physicians and researchers.
In fact, as far as I know it, AX3’s the only brand proven effective in clinical research.
The gold standard of longevity research called the Interventions Testing Program (ITP), found that it increased the median lifespan of mice by 12% (the equivalent of up to nine human years)
Compared to typical products, their research shows that it’s:
- 3X more bioavailable
- More pure
- More sustainable
This is because of their unique manufacturing process—harnessing the benefits of nature’s bioidentical molecule but with the purity of pharmaceutical-grade science.
AX3 Bio-Pure is the one I’ve switched to using and is now added to my optimized human performance supplement stack.
AX3 is a bit more expensive than the others and currently requires a subscription (delivery every 30, 60, 90, or 120 days), but with this one you know that you’re getting the highest quality product available.
Use AX3 exclusive discount code URBAN to save 20%
Nutrex BioAstin Hawaiian Astaxanthin 12mg
BioAstin’s Hawaiian algae-derived astaxanthin is the original and among the most famous of all products. They’ve produced this substance for over 40 years.
It’s also one of the only high-quality products available as a 12mg gummy and in five different quantity sizes.
Nutrex has become popular because they grow their algae in the USA, outdoors, and in an ideal Hawaiian environment.
The main downside of this product is their decision to use safflower oil. This oil oxidizes easily and partially offsets the antioxidant power of the astaxanthin.
Nevertheless, it’s good value (benefit to cost).
Choose Nutrex’s BioAstin Hawaiian Astaxanthin 12mg if you want the original, the option to consume it in gummy form, or a good overall deal.
Double Wood AstaReal Astaxanthin 12mg Max Strength
Double Wood is one of my go-to vendors for affordable no-frills supplements. They have a huge catalogue and constantly add proven ingredients (like this one) as well as the latest trends.
Unlike many budget astaxanthin supplements, they dose each softgel at 12mg of the higher quality patented form called “AstaReal”.
They were one of few companies to pass third-party lab testing though.
Although AstaReal is derived from algae, they use a gelatin capsule which makes it not vegan-friendly.
The other downside is that occasionally bottles arrive missing a few capsules. I only counted 57 instead of 60 capsules. I’ve heard others report the same thing.
Perhaps most concerning, however, is that they did not stabilize the carrier oil.
Extra virgin olive oil is known to go rancid fast, and although astaxanthin slows the process, many brands include vitamin E and other agents to further slow oxidation Share on XDouble Wood’s astaxanthin is a great value pick for non-vegans. Just consider counting the capsules inside the bottle.
Dr. Mercola Organic Astaxanthin
One of the leading educators on the benefits of astaxanthin, Dr. Mercola released his own product line.
As you may expect, he didn’t cut any corners. Including, providing one of the only organic astaxanthin products on the market.
He also chose organic olive oil as a carrier and stabilized the fat with vitamin E and organic rosemary extract.
At just under $1 per 12mg softgel, it’s certainly on the more expensive side. Dr. Mercola is also one of few vendors to offer other product variations like 4mg and either 30 or 90 count bottles.
Sadly, he used fish gelatin made from tilapia for the capsules. Making this not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.
Dr. Mercola’s astaxanthin stands out as one of the only organic and high-quality products, but it’s more expensive and not suitable for vegetarians or vegans due to the capsule.
Sports Research Triple Strength Astaxanthin Supplement
Sports Research has made a name for its supplements with slick marketing, and most importantly, high-quality ingredients.
They were one of the first companies I found that use stable fats (organic virgin coconut oil).
Sports Research derives their astaxanthin from a pure, concentrated source of Icelandic algae patented as Astalif
This brand discloses their third-party testing details, and it’s reassuring to see that their claims like Non-GMO are certified too (IGEN).
Plus, they’re one of the few companies sourcing sustainably.
If low cost is your goal, they sell a 6mg variety of this product for less than half price.
Plus, Sports Research offers this same product in a vegan version. Although it contains an unhealthy additive, carrageenan, which I don’t like.
Before I found AX3, I used Sports Research Triple Strength Astaxanthin because it’s quite high-quality yet still affordable.
Bulk Supplements Astaxanthin Softgels – 12mg
Bulk Supplements produces some of the absolute cheapest supplements on the market.
While mostly known for their large selection of bulk powders, they now offer products in capsules and other forms.
Each 12mg softgel comes out to about $0.18. Perhaps most importantly, they passed third-party lab testing for quality.
I see a few red flags with this product. First, they used high-PUFA and sunflower oil, which goes rancid extremely quickly (and that causes cellular issues).
Bulk Supplements also doesn’t disclose the country of origin or GMP certification status on the bottle, which makes me suspicious.
This astaxanthin comes in gelatin capsules, making it non-vegan too.
If you’re looking for the best cost per 12mg astaxanthin dose and don’t mind a few potential quality objections, you won’t beat Bulk Supplements.
Use Bulk Supplements discount code SAVE5 for 5% off
NOW Extra Strength 10mg Astaxanthin
NOW is one of the only large and established supplement manufacturers I still trust.
They’ve been working to do their own third-party testing and audits of entire supplement categories.
Though they’ve sold astaxanthin for well over a decade, NOW discovered rampant fraud and deception by other vendors in this market.
NOW also opted to use the patented AstaReal in their product. Unlike other vendors, they chose 10mg for some reason.
I used this astaxanthin before Sports Research and liked it. A few times I had issues with capsules leaking and sticking together.
I chose it because NOW also stabilizes their organic extra virgin olive oil with vitamin E.
Pick NOW Extra Strength Astaxanthin if you’re looking for a product in a local supplement shop or grocery store.
Pure Synergy SuperPure Astaxanthin Extract
Though newer to this market, Pure Synergy makes a unique product worth considering in any list of the best astaxanthin supplements.
This SuperPure Astaxanthin Extract is USDA-Certified Organic (meaning that all the active and inactive ingredients are organic too).
It’s also verified by NAXA—the Natural Algae Astaxanthin Association.
I love that Pure Synergy added phospholipids which further amplify the cellular health benefits. This product is also vegan-friendly, non-GMO, and produced by a Certified B Corp.
The biggest issues are the costs. Each dose contains 6mg of astaxanthin, and at $0.53, the cost of 12mg exceeds $1.
Pure Synergy SuperPure Astaxanthin is a top pick for its USDA-Certified Organic status and the additional cellular health benefits of added phospholipids—but this comes at a much higher price.
Warning: New Lab Tests Reveal Low Quality Products
Like many supplemental ingredients, the astaxanthin market is crowded with useless products—or worse.
Many contain high levels of toxic contaminants and little to no astaxanthin!
Third party testing from Alkemist Labs as well as NOW’s in-house lab confirmed the following [R]:
- 14/22 products (64%) on Amazon & Walmart failed potency testing
- 13/14 of those failed products (93%) contained <1mg of astaxanthin
This massive failure includes brands that claim a whopping 24mg of astaxanthin on the label—but actually contain virtually nothing.
Because of this, and other quality issues, I recommend avoiding most products.
Popular astaxanthin supplements I wouldn’t use include:
- Micro Ingredients Natural Astaxanthin 12mg: contains sunflower seed oil
- Osasuna Liposomal Astaxanthin Supplement: liposomal is not needed and product is dosed too high
- Nutricost Astaxanthin: contains sunflower oil and unnecessary caramel color, multiple reports of GI side effects
- Life Extension Astaxanthin with Phospholipids: low 4mg dose makes it quite expensive, contains sunflower oil, reported side effects
- Carlyle Astaxanthin Supplement 12mg: each softgel is actually 4mg, claims to use coconut oil but contains more sunflower oil, added unnecessary food coloring
- Doctor’s Best Astaxanthin with AstaReal: contains carrageenan, modified food starch, a small 6mg dose, and nothing to stabilize the fat
This is just a small list of many, many options available on Amazon and online.
The Incredible Health & Longevity Benefits of Astaxanthin
Although you likely haven’t heard of it, astaxanthin has a large scientific backing.
It has been the subject of:
- 3,000 peer-reviewed papers
- 400+ animal studies
- 100 human clinical trials
Making it more evidence-based than virtually any of the top biohacking supplements.
Although it’s great at scavenging reactive oxygen species (free radicals), this isn’t just another potent antioxidant and anti-aging complex.
At its core, astaxanthin works by restoring cellular health and specifically aiding cellular membrane integrity.
This study summarized it best,
“It further elaborates its multiple potencies such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-cancer, anti-obese, anti-diabetic, anti-ageing, anti-TB, anti-viral, anti-COVID 19, neuro-protective, nephro-protective, and fertility-enhancing properties.”
Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential of natural bioactive pigment: astaxanthin
Some of the myriad health and longevity benefits of astaxanthin include improving:
- Anti-aging: extended lifespan of mammals in a study funded by the National Institute of Health as well as in yeast, fruit flies, worms, and mice [R, R, R, R]. Also appears to increase autophagy and activate longevity genes like FOXO3 [R, R]
- Muscle, bone, & joint health: protects cartilage, joints, and muscles from degredation (oxidative stress and inflammation), and helps reverse age-related muscle and strength loss [R, R, R]
- Energy & mitochondria: reduces reactive oxygen species in mitochondria allowing more efficient energy production [R, R]
- Heart health: lowers blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides as well as improves metabolism [R]
- Brain performance & health: crosses the blood-brain barrier where it slows brain aging, lowers neuroinflammation, and benefits markers of cognitive performance like focus, memory, and information processing (in animal and human studies) [R, R, R, R]
- Skin protection & health: protects skin from UV light damage, while also reducing wrinkles and increasing skin elasticity and moisture [R, R, R]
- Vision & eye health: protects retinal cells against damage caused by inflammation and free radicals, simultaneously improving visual acuity and other parameters of eye health [R, R]
- Immune system modulation: activates natural killer cells and T-cells, and supports a healthy immune response [R, R, R, R]
- Athletic performance & recovery: may improve energy usage, endurance performance, and exercise recovery [R, R]
- Obesity & weight loss: some evidence suggests that it mitigates weight gain from unhealthy diets (at least, in mice) [R, R, R, R]
As it easily crosses the blood-brain barrier, its anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties [R] make it great for concussion recovery.
Limited evidence suggests that this substance may improve fertility and the success of assisted reproductive technologies [R].
Some call astaxanthin a senolytic ingredient, but I couldn’t find any scientific evidence of that.
Expert Buying Guide: Choosing Your Ideal Astaxanthin Supplement
When you’re comparing and reviewing astaxanthin products, there are several key factors to consider.
Quality: components of optimal quality
When it comes to astaxanthin, you should care equally about the contents of each softgel as well as what’s not inside.
Reputable companies transparently share every single substance within their capsules as well as full third-party lab testing details.
If you can’t find the name of the lab for the test results, it’s likely fake.
Remember, many of the products on the market contain zero astaxanthin and can still contain heavy metals, GMO, and other industrial contaminants.
Either choose a quality brand or avoid astaxanthin altogether Share on XForm: the ideal astaxanthin form & what to avoid
The different forms of astaxanthin you’ll find in the market are:
- Capsules
- Liquid
- Liposomal
- Micro-encapsulated
Virtually every product I’ve come across sells astaxanthin in softgel capsules. It requires a fat source for optimal absorption, so any capsules full of powder won’t work well.
Astaxanthin softgels should ideally contain a quality fat source (organic coconut oil or olive oil). Olive oil should be stabilized with added vitamin E or rosemary extract.
Avoid sunflower oil and safflower oil.
Micro-encapsulated products help it avoid degradation in the gut so that it reaches your small intestine intact.
There’s virtually zero research on liposomal astaxanthin. Since it’s more expensive and less studied, avoid it.
Source: natural algae-derived vs synthetic
Generally, naturally-derived molecules work better than their synthetic equivalents. Most astaxanthin comes from a special species of algae.
One study found that algae-derived astaxanthin has stronger antioxidant properties. But that finding that not been replicated, and the researchers had conflicts of interest.
In fact, research has shown that supplements using “natural product total synthesis” technology work extremely well. This results in the cleanest, purest form of astaxanthin that’s identical to nature’s organic molecule.
Since scientists closely control the synthesis, you avoid any potential contaminants.
Claims that natural astaxanthin is stronger or better than synthetic astaxanthin are largely myths. Assuming it’s synthesized properly.
Dosage: how much astaxanthin do you really need?
Much of the research has used 12mg of astaxanthin daily. That seems to be the sweet spot.
Here are some of the common dosing recommendations:
- General health: 4 to 12mg per day
- Athletic performance: 12 to 24mg per day
- Cardiovascular health: 6 to 8mg per day (reduce triglycerides and increase HDL cholesterol)
- Specific health conditions: 6 to 12mg per day (conditions like skin health or eye health)
Again, check the serving size on the bottle.
Some companies advertise 12mg servings, but only put 6mg into each softgel. Essentially making each 12mg serving twice as expensive as it appears.
Overall value: balancing cost & quality
One of the first factors I notice when comparing products is price per serving.
Cost per dose ranges up to 5 fold from the cheapest to the most expensive. To an extent, you certainly get what you pay for.
Strict quality control and lab testing make the products cost more.
But cost alone isn’t always accurate. Some products are heavily marked up.
That’s why I created this guide to help you better understand which astaxanthin supplements are worth it.
What is Astaxanthin & How Does it Work?
Astaxanthin is a pink-ish carotenoid pigment mainly found in seafood, plants, and algae.
The highest levels are found in aquatic animals like:
- Salmon
- Shrimp
- Krill
- Trout
- Crayfish
It’s also naturally occurring in species of microalgae called Heamatococcus pluvialis, Chlorococcum, and Chlorella zofingiensis.
Astaxanthin’s a potent antioxidant, supplement, and promising therapeutic substance. It works against “different ravaging diseases and disorders” as well in healthy populations.
Natural sources: from microalgae to seafood
If you already consume a diet rich in seafood, you’re already consuming trace natural sources of astaxanthin.
Here are some of the best astaxanthin-containing foods [R, R].
| Source 🧬 | Astaxanthin Dose 🔬 |
|---|---|
| Algae (Haematococcus Pluvialis) | 1,134.0mg/oz |
| Salmon Roe | 737.9mg/oz |
| Arctic Shrimp | 34.0mg/oz |
| Wild Sockeye Salmon | 1.033mg/oz |
| Farmed Rainbow Trout | 0.7mg/oz |
| Eel | 0.51-0.79mg/oz |
| Krill | 0.522mg/oz |
| Trout | 0.719mg/oz |
| Crawfish | Varies |
| Lobster | Varies |
| Crab | Varies |
For years, I tried to get my astaxanthin from krill oil supplements. Unfortuntately, a serving of krill oil generally contains about 300mcg (0.3mg) of astaxanthin.
You’d need to consume 20-40 servings of krill oil to get enough astaxanthin.
Only a few natural substances contain appreciable amounts of astaxanthin. And there’s not nearly as much research into the quantities within each.
These numbers are estimates, and the actual dosage also depends on a number of factors such as growing conditions and extraction process.
Potential dangers & side effects: know this before buying
Astaxanthin is incredibly safe and well tolerated. So far, research has not uncovered any serious side effects.
Most of the side effects are anecdotal from high-dosages and may include:
- More bowel movements and red stool color
- Stomach discomfort
- Increased skin pigmentation
- Altered hormone levels
- Hair growth
- Decreased blood pressure
Of course, pregnant and breastfeeding women may want to avoid astaxanthin usage.
There’s also a hypothesis that astaxanthin may interact with medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2B6 and 3A4 substrates), potentially reducing their effectiveness.
It’s a good idea to check with your doctor before supplementing astaxanthin just to be safe.
How to maximize benefits: stacking astaxanthin with other supplements & habits
People rarely notice the benefits of astaxanthin overnight.
Generally, the benefits take 2-6 weeks of daily use to kick in noticeably.
Since it naturally occurs alongside fat and is fat soluble, most experts recommend taking it alongside a fat-containing meal.
Just a tiny bit will work and will dramatically enhance absorption.
I personally like to use it alongside other UV-protective substances like methylene blue.
This helps me reduce skin damage and photoaging from spending lots of time outdoors in the summer.
Supplementing Pure Astaxanthin For Optimal Health: Verdict
Although quite promising and deserving of a spot in any list of the top longevity supplements, astaxanthin’s not a panacea.
Especially considering that most products really contain little to zero astaxanthin—despite claims prominently made on the label.
Some of those contain more heavy metals, contaminants, and toxicants than bioavailable astaxanthin.
You’re better off skipping this substance altogether than choosing a low-quality product.
The right ones, however, protect many systems and organs throughout the body.
If I took omega-3/fish oil, I’d certainly also take astaxanthin to help protect the delicate fatty acids from going rancid and destabilizing cell membranes (lipid peroxidation).
Astaxanthin is one of the few substances that show human lifespan extension in the NIH’s rigorous ITPP testing program Share on XMake sure to take it with fat, and you’ll want to wait up to six weeks of daily use to notice the full benefits.
I’ve used it for about seven years now.
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Have you used astaxanthin supplements? Drop a comment below and let me know your experience.
