Astaxanthin from microalgae and its potential health uses
What it found
Natural astaxanthin lowers oxidative stress more than the synthetic version.
It is used in cosmetics, animal feed, and food colouring.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Use in animal feed
Astaxanthin is used as a feed supplement for poultry and fish farming.
Studies in people and animals
Stronger antioxidant activity
Astaxanthin has higher antioxidant activity than a range of similar plant pigments. Natural astaxanthin lowers oxidative stress much more than the synthetic kind.
Possible health uses
Research points to possible roles in preventing heart disease, protecting skin, managing diabetes, and fighting cancer. It is also used as a cosmetic ingredient and a natural food colourant.
Other findings
Where it comes from
Natural astaxanthin is made from a microalga called Haematococcus pluvialis. It can be produced using either a one-stage or two-stage process.
Market share and cost
Natural astaxanthin costs more to produce and makes up only 1% of the global market. Scientists are looking for ways to lower the price so more people can buy it.
What the authors conclude
- They note that natural astaxanthin is a valuable product but needs more research on long-term use before food companies adopt it widely.
- They point out that scientists must find ways to lower the cost of natural astaxanthin so consumers can access it.
How it was done
Astaxanthin is a strong antioxidant with possible uses in medicine, food, and animal feed. The authors wanted to gather what is known about how it works and how it is made.
The authors gathered existing research on astaxanthin. They looked at its chemistry, how the body absorbs it, and how it is produced. They also examined its possible roles in heart disease, diabetes, cancer, skin care, and animal feed.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This work gathers past research rather than testing astaxanthin directly in people. It cannot prove that taking astaxanthin prevents diseases like cancer or diabetes.
- Some findings come from cells or animals and may not apply to shoppers eating foods with this ingredient.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- CCS Haryana Agricultural University, India
The paper
- Title
- Astaxanthin: A super antioxidant from microalgae and its therapeutic potential
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Kumar S, Kumar R, Diksha, Kumari A, Panwar A (2022). Astaxanthin: A super antioxidant from microalgae and its therapeutic potential. Journal of basic microbiology. doi:10.1002/jobm.202100391PubMed 34817092DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error