Astaxanthin in PCOS women at risk of OHSS
What it found
In 37 women with PCOS at high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, astaxanthin led to a higher rate of mature eggs and lower levels of some inflammatory markers.
The number of women who developed OHSS was slightly lower with astaxanthin, but this difference was not statistically significant.
What they found
Studies in people
Mature eggs
The rate of mature eggs was significantly higher in the astaxanthin group (71.52% vs 61.17%).
OHSS cases
OHSS occurred in 55.5% of the astaxanthin group and 68.4% of the placebo group, but this difference was not statistically significant.
Inflammatory markers
In ovarian granulosa cells, RAGE mRNA was lower and the pIκB/IκB ratio was significantly lower with astaxanthin. In follicular fluid, interleukin-6 was significantly lower, and VEGF showed a downward trend.
Hormone levels
On the day of trigger, estradiol and progesterone levels were lower in the astaxanthin group, but these differences were not statistically significant.
Side effects
No non-OHSS adverse events were reported in either group.
What the authors conclude
“In conclusion, reduced IL‑6 levels in FF, downregulation of the RAGE–NFκB pathway, and enhanced oocyte maturation provide preliminary mechanistic support for AST as a potential adjunctive strategy to mitigate OHSS risk while maintaining an adequate ovarian response to COS.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that astaxanthin may improve oocyte maturation and reduce inflammation, but the clinical benefit for OHSS prevention needs confirmation in larger trials.
- They advise that larger, adequately powered studies are required to validate these findings and clarify the clinical relevance.
How it was done
OHSS is a serious complication of fertility treatment, and women with PCOS are at higher risk. The authors wanted to see if astaxanthin, an antioxidant, could reduce this risk by calming inflammation.
They randomly assigned 44 women with PCOS at high risk of OHSS to take either 12 mg of astaxanthin per day or a placebo for six weeks, alongside their fertility treatment. Of these, 37 women started the fertility treatment and were followed up.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a small pilot trial, so it cannot show for certain whether astaxanthin reduces the risk of OHSS or improves pregnancy outcomes.
- The study did not evaluate implantation or clinical pregnancy, so it cannot show whether astaxanthin affects those outcomes.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
- Authors work at
- Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
The paper
- Title
- Exploratory pilot trial of astaxanthin supplementation in PCOS patients at risk of OHSS with focus on RAGE-NFκB pathway
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Maleki-Hajiagha A, Aleyasin A, Amidi F (2026). Exploratory pilot trial of astaxanthin supplementation in PCOS patients at risk of OHSS with focus on RAGE-NFκB pathway. Scientific reports. doi:10.1038/s41598-026-36449-7Free full textPubMed 41673418DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error