The claimEvidence C · limited
Astaxanthin is a strong antioxidant + anti-aging
The evidence
Its test-tube antioxidant score (ORAC) does not translate into outcomes in the body; clinical data on heart disease, lifespan or skin aging is thin.
The mechanism, in brief
Astaxanthin is the pigment that turns salmon flesh pink, and a flamingo's pink comes from the same family of pigments. Your body cannot make it; you only get it through the food chain: microalgae make it, small crustaceans such as krill eat the algae, and fish eat the krill.
Sources (1)
- Higuera-Ciapara, I., Felix-Valenzuela, L., & Goycoolea, F. M. (2006). Astaxanthin: a review of its chemistry and applications. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 46(2), 185-196.