Astareal Astaxanthin Inhibits Lipid Peroxidation in Humans – Study

15/06/07 In a recently published article by Karppi et al (Int J Vitam Nutr Res 2007, 77(1):3-11.), it was shown that astaxanthin supplementation (Astaxin) inhibits lipid peroxidation in humans, Swedish based BioReal AB have said.

Astaxanthin is a wide spread carotenoid and antioxidant in nature. In aquatic animals, it is the main carotenoid pigment responsible for the coloration of salmon, crustaceans and shrimp. One important function for astaxanthin in these animals is to protect the sensitive omega-3 fatty acids from oxidation. In humans, omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to have positive effects in cardiovascular disease, inflammatory conditions and mental disorders, to name a few. These findings are the reason that more and more people daily supplement their diet with omega-3 fatty acids.

The study by Karppi et al show that astaxanthin supplementation (8 mg per day) elevates astaxanthin levels in plasma compared to placebo. It was also shown that the amount of plasma hydroxyl fatty acids was decreased in the supplemented group, indicating that astaxanthin protects sensitive fatty acids from oxidation. The supplementation in the form of dietary capsules (Astaxin) was also well tolerated by all individuals, showing that daily consumption of dietary capsules with astaxanthin is a safe and efficient way of protecting our bodies and lipids from oxidation.

Earlier studies support the effect of astaxanthin in cardiovascular protection. Astaxanthin supplementation was shown by Iwamoto et al 2 to decrease LDL oxidation in vitro. Furthermore, astaxanthin inhibits macrophage infiltration into developing atherosclerotic plaques in a rabbit model (Li et al 3), resulting in significant less ruptured plaques.

These results indicate that astaxanthin supplementation can have a protective role in the prevention of heart and vascular disease alone or in combination with omega-3 fatty acids.