Astaxanthin Helps the Heart

CHIBA, JapanAstaxanthin consumption reduced triglyceride and increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in the first randomized, placebo-controlled human study on the topic (Atherosclerosis. 2010 Apr;209(2):520-3)

Placebo-controlled astaxanthin administration at doses of 0 mg, 6 mg, 12 mg, 18 mg/day for 12 weeks was randomly allocated to 61 non-obese subjects with fasting serum triglyceride of 120 to 200mg/dl and without diabetes and hypertension, aged 25 to 60 years.

In before and after tests, body mass index (BMI) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were unaffected at all doses however, triglyceride decreased, while HDL cholesterol increased significantly. Multiple comparison tests showed that 12 and 18 mg/day doses significantly reduced triglyceride, and 6 and 12 mg doses significantly increased HDL-cholesterol.

Additionally, serum adiponectin was increased by astaxanthin (12 and 18 mg/day), and changes of adiponectin correlated positively with HDL-cholesterol changes independent of age and BMI. Serum adiponectin is a protein hormone that suppresses metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, and is an independent risk factor for metabolic syndrome.

Astaxanthin, a carotenoid that gives salmon its pinkish color, has been reported to improve dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome in animals, but such effects in humans had not been studied up until this point. Astaxanthin is found in microalgae, yeast, salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, crayfish, crustaceans; and can be consumed in supplement form.