Astaxanthin supplements and inflammation in women with PCOS
What it found
In women with PCOS, taking 12 mg of astaxanthin daily for 8 weeks lowered some inflammatory markers and changed the activity of several stress-related genes in blood cells.
It did not improve body mass index, excess hair, hair loss or menstrual regularity.
What they found
Studies in people
Inflammatory markers
TNF-α, IL-18 and IL-6 were significantly lower in the astaxanthin group than in the placebo group. CRP showed no significant difference between the groups.
Caspase proteins
Active caspase-3 was significantly lower in the astaxanthin group. Caspase-8 showed no significant difference between the groups.
ER stress and apoptosis genes
Astaxanthin reduced the expression of CHOP, XBP1, ATF4 and DR5 compared with placebo. The decrease was not statistically significant for ATF6 and only marginally significant for GRP78.
PCOS symptoms
Astaxanthin had no significant positive effect on BMI, hirsutism, hair loss or regularity of the menstrual cycle.
What the authors conclude
“It appears that ASX may benefit PCOS by changing the ER stress-apoptotic pathway and reducing serum inflammatory markers; however, additional research is required to determine this compound's potential relevance.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say astaxanthin may benefit PCOS by changing the ER stress-apoptotic pathway and reducing serum inflammatory markers.
- They advise that additional research is required to determine this compound's potential relevance.
How it was done
PCOS is linked to inflammation and to stress in a cell structure called the endoplasmic reticulum, which can push cells toward self-destruction. The authors wanted to see whether astaxanthin, a carotenoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, could affect these processes.
They ran a randomised, double-blind trial in 56 women with PCOS aged 18 to 40. For 8 weeks, 28 women took 12 mg of astaxanthin and 28 took a placebo. Blood samples were taken before and after to measure inflammatory markers, caspase proteins and the activity of endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The trial lasted only 8 weeks, so it cannot show what happens with longer use.
- It cannot show whether these changes in markers and gene activity lead to fewer symptoms or better health over time.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
- Authors work at
- Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
The paper
- Title
- Randomized clinical trial of astaxanthin supplement on serum inflammatory markers and ER stress-apoptosis gene expression in PBMCs of women with PCOS
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Jabarpour M, Amidi F, Aleyasin A, Nashtaei MS, Marghmaleki MS (2024). Randomized clinical trial of astaxanthin supplement on serum inflammatory markers and ER stress-apoptosis gene expression in PBMCs of women with PCOS. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine. doi:10.1111/jcmm.18464Free full textPubMed 39036884DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error