Astaxanthin Found to Help Cell and Immune System Health in Women

by | Dec 9, 2010 | 2010, Astaxanthin, Immune Health

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. An 8 week supplementation of 8 mg of astaxanthin, initiated an immune response in patients that was 81% higher than the control group. Astaxanthin also decreased cell damage and inflammation.

Astaxanthin is one of the most common antioxidants found in the red pigment of crustacean shells (crabs, shrimp), and salmon (1). Now a new study (2) has found that axtaxanthin can help benefit both cell and immune system health. In the study, 28 female patients with an average age of 21.5 years received either 0, 2, or 8 mg of astaxanthin per day for 8 weeks. At weeks 0, 4, and 8, the researchers obtained blood samples to measure levels of cell damage (8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine [8-OHDG]) as well as immune system strength through a panel of specific cytokines.

By the end of 8 weeks, the researchers found that patients taking 8 mg of astaxanthin per day had levels of the cytokine Tissue Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) that were 80% higher than the 2-mg group (2.60 vs. 1.44 picograms/milliliter) and 81% higher than the control group (2.6 vs. 1.43 pg/mL). For another cytokine, Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), levels in the 8-mg group were 91% higher than the 2-mg group (9.55 vs. 5.0 pg/mL) and 104% higher than the control group (9.55 vs. 4.68 pg/mL). For cell damage, the researchers found the 8-mg group had 46% lower levels of 8-OHDG after 8 weeks compared to the control group (12 vs. 22 nanograms/milliliter) and 22% lower levels after 8 weeks, compared to the 2-mg group (12 v.s 15.5 ng/mL). For the researchers, “this study shows that dietary astaxanthin enhanced immune response and decreased a DNA oxidative damage biomarker and inflammation in young healthy females.”

Source: Park et al. Astaxanthin decreased oxidative stress and inflammation and enhanced immune response in humans. Nutrition & Metabolism 2010, 7:18 http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/7/1/18

© 2010 Park et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0) 

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Posted December 9, 2010.

References:

  1. Miki, W, Yamaguchi, K, Konosu, S. (1982) Comparison of carotenoids in the ovaries of marine fish and shellfish Comp Biochem Physiol B 71,7-11.
  2. Park JS.  Astaxanthin decreased oxidative stress and inflammation and enhanced immune response in humans. Nutrition & Metabolism 2010, 7:18.