ProtokolPROTOKOL
Supplement

Astaxanthin

Half-life

~21 hours

What is Astaxanthin?

Carotenoid from microalgae and salmon. One of the most powerful natural antioxidants — 6000x stronger than vitamin C.

How Astaxanthin works

Spans the entire cell membrane as a cross-linked antioxidant — can quench singlet oxygen and peroxyl radicals at both membrane surfaces simultaneously, unlike vitamin E which is localized to one leaflet. Also upregulates Nrf2 cytoprotective pathway.

Benefits & uses

Common uses: Antioxidant protection, exercise recovery, skin health, cardiovascular support, eye health.

Astaxanthin dosage

Typical dose
8–12 mg/day with fat-containing meal (AstaREAL brand has most research). Benefits seen after 4–8 weeks.

Astaxanthin half-life

~21 hours (plasma)

Astaxanthin side effects

Very safe. High doses may cause mild orange skin tint (harmless). GI upset uncommonly.

  • Very safe — no known serious toxicity
  • High doses (>50 mg/day) may cause orange skin pigmentation
  • Mild GI discomfort uncommonly

Track Astaxanthin in Protokol.

Log doses, model half-lives, check interactions, and line it all up against your bloodwork. Free on iPhone and Android.

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For research and educational purposes only. This page is not medical advice and is not a recommendation to use any compound. Many compounds listed are not approved for human use, and some are prescription-only or controlled in your jurisdiction. Dosing figures are reference or observational reports. Talk to a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing anything. Protokol is for tracking purposes only.