Astaxanthin
Also known as: Haematococcus pluvialis extract
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid pigment usually sourced from the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis. It is commonly explored in skin, recovery, and healthy-aging routines as an antioxidant. Human research is preliminary, with mostly small studies. It is fat-soluble, so it is typically taken with a meal containing fat.
Snapshot
What this page can tell you: Commonly discussed timing, food notes, caution categories, and an honest note on how much source review this entry still needs.
What it cannot: Whether this is appropriate for you personally, or that it treats, prevents, or cures any condition. Informational only — discuss with a clinician or pharmacist.
🕒 Timing
When: With a meal
Food: With a meal containing fat
Fat-soluble; commonly taken with a meal containing fat.
💊 Common use range
4–12 mg
Follow product guidance; long-term data at higher doses is limited.
Ranges are informational, not a recommended dose. Talk to a professional about what is right for you.
⚠️ Commonly noted interactions (supplements)
None listed.
Often about absorption or timing rather than danger — separating doses is common. This list is not exhaustive.
🧭 Caution level
- Evidence not fully source-reviewed yet
Caution level is an informational summary of commonly discussed caution categories and doses — not a safety rating, approval, or medical advice. Low caution does not mean safe for you.
🩺 Medication caution categories
None flagged here, but always review your full routine with a professional.
🏥 Surgery & procedure caution
Not a well-established surgical concern; share your full supplement list with your care team.
If you have a procedure scheduled, bring your full supplement list to your surgical and anesthesia team. Do not stop prescribed medication unless your clinician tells you to. Do not start or stop supplements based only on this app.
✅ Quality checklist
- Prefer products with third-party testing or a certificate of analysis (COA).
- Check the label for the exact form and the elemental or active amount per serving.
🧩 Commonly paired with
🔁 Alternatives
🗣️ Questions for a professional
- Is there any reason astaxanthin would conflict with my medications or conditions?
🔬 Evidence snapshot
Overall evidence level here is listed as "Preliminary evidence". A detailed, source-reviewed evidence summary has not been completed yet.
🧪 Forms & quality
Needs evidence review — no source-reviewed information yet. We only show dose and monitoring details after they have been checked against reputable sources.
See the supplement glossary for what form names like "L-", chelated, or standardized extract mean.
📏 Dose & monitoring
Needs evidence review — no source-reviewed information yet. We only show dose and monitoring details after they have been checked against reputable sources.
Evidence vs. burden: Not yet reviewed
😐 Commonly reported side effects
- Uncommon; slight skin or stool color changes reported at higher intakes
Non-exhaustive and individual.
🔄 Cycling & breaks
Not typically cycled.
📅 Daily use notes
Often taken daily with a fat-containing meal; benefits, if any, are discussed over weeks.
📋 Source review status
Needs evidence review
Placeholder — verify with MedlinePlus / NCCIH before publishing.
Research backlog (queries to verify):
- astaxanthin skin photoprotection human trial
- astaxanthin supplementation safety review
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