Astaxanthin is a member of a selected group of carotenoids known as xanthophylls, or oxygenated carotenoids. Several studies in animals and humans have shown that astaxanthin possesses antioxidant properties and a wide variety of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and ocular and heart hypertension protective effects. Astaxanthin has been widely used as an additive in some industries, such as aquaculture and health food. Recently, an increasing number of studies have reported the safety of astaxanthin. Here are a few specific studies:
- Safety evaluation of astaxanthin in the pregnant populations
Niu, T. [1] discovered that the oral LD50 of astaxanthin was greater than 20 g/kg·bw. Astaxanthin did not cause damage to chromosomes and mitotic apparatus of pregnant mice. Given a single dose of 500 mg/kg·bw astaxanthin, the concentration of astaxanthin in plasma reached the maximum at 8 h (55.7 μg/L), and it was completely metabolized after 48 h. In the repeat-dose toxicity test, 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg·bw astaxanthin showed no abnormalities in the clinical observation, body and organ weight, hematological and biochemical parameters of mice throughout the pregnancy.
- Safety evaluation of astaxanthin in the gastrointestinal tract
Buesen, R. [2] studied that clinical chemistry, hematology, blood clotting times and urinalysis evaluations showed no toxicologically relevant, dose-related effects in group of animals treated with the test article or the formulation matrix relative to the vehicle control group at any study period examined. Specifically, that ingestion of the [3S, 3'S] isomer of astaxanthin of up to 700 and 920 mg astaxanthin/kg bw/day in a gelatin/carbohydrate formulation is without adverse effect when given orally to rats for 13 weeks of continuous exposure.
- Safety evaluation of astaxanthin in the immune function
Fan, Q. [3] discovered that high doses significantly improved delayed allergy reaction and NK cell activity. Results of acute oral toxicity and genotoxicity tests were negative. Gross anatomical observations and histopathological examination showed no abnormal changes associated with the treatments.
In addition to supplying high quality astaxanthin products, Alfa Chemistry is also committed to astaxanthin related research. For more information about astaxanthin, please feel free to contact us.
References
- Niu, T., Zhou, J., Wang, F., Xuan, R., Chen, J., Wu, W., & Chen, H. Safety assessment of astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis: Acute toxicity, genotoxicity, distribution and repeat-dose toxicity studies in gestation mice. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2020, 104695.
- Buesen, R., Schulte, S., Strauss, V., et al. Safety assessment of [3S, 3'S]-astaxanthin – Subchronic toxicity study in rats. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2015, 81, 129–136.
- Fan, Q.; Chen, Z.; Wu, Y.; Zhu, J.; Yu, Z. Study on the Enhancement of Immune Function of Astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis. Foods 2021, 10, 1847.
