Quick Summary
Which astaxanthin supplement is best?
Choosing the right astaxanthin supplement matters: some products sold online have been reported to contain little of the astaxanthin promised on their labels. The good news? All of the popular brands ConsumerLab selected for testing contained their listed amounts — or more.
But there was a big difference in value. We found that the same amount of astaxanthin can cost less than half as much from one brand compared with another, with no clear reason to pay more. See ConsumerLab's test results and its Top Picks for low-dose and high-dose astaxanthin to find the best options.
Astaxanthin supplements tested include those by AX3, BulkSupplements.com, California Gold Nutrition (AstaLif), Double Wood (AstaReal), Nutrex Hawaii (BioAstin), Life Extension, NOW, Nutricost, and Sports Research.
What is astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin is a red carotenoid and antioxidant that is naturally produced by microalgae and may also be produced synthetically (see What It Is).
What does astaxanthin do?
Astaxanthin supplements are promoted for a wide variety of uses, such as increasing physical endurance, reducing inflammation, reducing wrinkles, protecting from sunburn, and lowering triglyceride levels. However, the evidence supporting these uses is mixed (see What It Does).
How do you take astaxanthin?
Because astaxanthin is fat-soluble, take it with a meal that contains fats or oils to increase absorption. There is no established safe and effective dose for astaxanthin, but daily doses between 4 mg and 18 mg have shown some benefits without reported side effects in clinical studies, although long-term studies are needed (See ConsumerTips™). Red coloration of stool may occur at a dose of 20 mg or more (See Concerns and Cautions for more information).
