Astaxanthin, oxidative stress and heart failure symptoms in 80 people
What it found
Taking 20 mg of astaxanthin daily for eight weeks improved blood markers of oxidative stress and eased breathlessness and tiredness in people with heart failure.
The study involved 80 patients.
What they found
Studies in people
Oxidative stress markers
After eight weeks, the astaxanthin group had higher levels of two protective antioxidants (TAC and SOD) compared to the dummy pill group. They also had a bigger drop in MDA, a marker of cell damage from oxidation.
Uric acid levels
Uric acid in the blood fell more in the astaxanthin group than in the placebo group over the eight weeks. High uric acid is linked to worse outcomes in heart failure.
Breathlessness and tiredness
People taking astaxanthin reported greater improvements in both breathlessness and tiredness compared to those on the dummy pill. These changes were clear and statistically meaningful.
Appetite changes
Both groups felt their appetite improved, but the difference between them was only borderline. The authors note this suggests a trend rather than firm proof that astaxanthin boosts appetite.
Stomach side effects
Two people in the astaxanthin group experienced stomach problems, including nausea and vomiting. Five people dropped out of each group during the trial.
What the authors conclude
- They conclude that taking 20 mg of astaxanthin daily for eight weeks improved oxidative stress markers, lowered uric acid, and eased symptoms in people with heart failure.
- They advise that astaxanthin could be considered as an add-on option, but larger and longer studies are needed before making firm recommendations.
- They note that their study used a synthetic form of astaxanthin, so further trials should check if natural forms work the same way.
How it was done
Heart failure often involves high oxidative stress and raised uric acid, which can worsen the condition. Astaxanthin is a strong antioxidant that might help reduce these harmful effects.
Researchers gave 80 people with heart failure either 20 mg of astaxanthin or a dummy capsule every day for eight weeks. They measured blood markers of oxidative stress, uric acid levels, and asked about breathlessness, tiredness and appetite before and after.
What it can’t tell you
- This trial lasted only eight weeks, so it cannot show whether the benefits last over time.
- It also tested just one specific synthetic form of astaxanthin at a single hospital, so the results may not apply to other types or to everyone with heart failure.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (approval code: IR.MUI.MED.REC.1402.099, approved on 19 March 2024) and trial registration (IRCT20200429047235N3, registered on 26 March 2024) were both completed before the enrollment of the first participant. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their enrollment in the study, ensuring their voluntary participation and adherence to ethical standards in research. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
- Authors work at
- Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran; School of Nutrition and Food Science Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Alzahra University, Iran
The paper
- Title
- Impact of astaxanthin on oxidative markers, uric acid, and clinical symptoms in heart failure: a randomized clinical trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Mohammadi SG, Shafie D, Feizi A, Bagherniya M, Ahmadi AR, Kafeshani M (2025). Impact of astaxanthin on oxidative markers, uric acid, and clinical symptoms in heart failure: a randomized clinical trial. BMC cardiovascular disorders. doi:10.1186/s12872-025-05260-zFree full textPubMed 41162864DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error