[Effects of Astaxanthin] From Eye Health to Antioxidants, 3 Benefits of Astaxanthin

[Effects of Astaxanthin] From Eye Health to Antioxidants, 3 Benefits of Astaxanthin

Dec 03, 2023KimSunhyo

[Effects of Astaxanthin] From Eye Health

to Antioxidants, 3 Benefits of Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin
Only Good For Your Eyes? Let’s Find Out Through Thesis
This content is health information about ingredients and not directly related to a specific product.
Effects of Astaxanthin
1. Improves dry eye syndrome
2. Improves DNA damage
3. Reduces inflammation and systolic blood pressure

Hello, I am Jinny, a pharmacist.

Do you know about ‘astaxanthin’, which is attracting attention as an emerging eye health ingredient along with lutein? It is widely distributed in aquatic animals, including crustaceans, and is also known as an ingredient contained in Haematococcus extract, which has been recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety as having the ability to ‘help improve eye fatigue.’

However, after reviewing various data, I found that astaxanthin has so many health benefits that it would be a shame to say that it is ‘good for the eyes.’ Therefore, today we will take a look at the charms of astaxanthin in various shades based on the paper.

1. Improves Dry Eye Syndrome
 

Dry eye refers to a disease in which the surface of the eye becomes dry due to insufficient tear production or excessive evaporation of tears. It is easy to think of it as a minor problem, but it is a disease that requires constant management throughout life as it can lead to symptoms such as eye and head pain, blurred light, and decreased vision.

In 2016, a paper was published in Clinical ophthalmology that stated that supplements containing astaxanthin, bilberry extract, vitamin E, selenium, and zinc can help with dry eyes.

“The results of this study's overall patient evaluation, objective measurements, and tear reactive oxygen species suggest that this antioxidant supplement may improve general dry eye symptoms through anti-inflammatory effects and increase tear production and tear film stability in patients with dry eye. It can mean that it can.”

Reference :  Huang, J. Y., Yeh, P. T., & Hou, Y. C. (2016). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of oral antioxidant supplement therapy in patients with dry eye syndrome. Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.), 10, 813–820.
2. Improves DNA Damage
 

The benefits of consuming astaxanthin are not limited to eye health. Astaxanthin is essentially a type of phytochemical that plays a role in removing free radicals, the main culprit of DNA damage. Therefore, the academic world has paid attention to the antioxidant activity of astaxanthin and has conducted various studies.

In 2010, research results were published in Nutrition & Metabolism showing that consuming a composition containing astaxanthin, lutein, and beta-carotene improved DNA damage.

“Dietary astaxanthin dramatically reduced one DNA damage marker (serum 8-OHdG), and this protective effect was observed over four weeks of consumption.”

Reference :  Park, J.S., Chyun, J.H., Kim, Y.K. et al (2010). Astaxanthin decreased oxidative stress and inflammation and enhanced immune response in humans. Nutrition & Metabolism (Lond) 7, 18.
3. Reduces Inflammation and Systolic Blood Pressure
 

As reports have accumulated that astaxanthin also removes inflammatory substances, studies have been accumulating to observe changes in inflammatory indicators according to astaxanthin intake.

In 2020, a study was reported in Clinical Nutrition ESPEN that observed the effects of compositions containing astaxanthin and EPA, a type of omega-3, on inflammation and systolic blood pressure.

“Inflammatory markers were reduced or blunted by astaxanthin composition intake, with significant increases in EPA levels and fatty acid index. In addition, systolic blood pressure was reduced for more than 4 weeks with simultaneous improvement in endothelial function.”

Reference :  Divya Birudaraju, Lavanya Cherukuri, April Kinninger, Bhanu T. Chaganti, Kashif Shaikh, Sajad Hamal, Ferdinand Flores, Sion K. Roy, Matthew J. Budoff (2020). A combined effect of Cavacurcumin, Eicosapentaenoic acid (Omega-3s), Astaxanthin and Gamma –linoleic acid (Omega-6) (CEAG) in healthy volunteers- a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 35, 174-179.

Today we looked at astaxanthin. As mentioned earlier, astaxanthin has various health benefits and is expected to be used more widely in the future.

I hope you have a healthy day both physically and mentally. This was Jinny.



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