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Study summary · Immunity, inflammation & resilience

What is the antioxidant activity of astaxanthin in humans?

Int J Vitam Nutr Res · 2019 · PMID 30982442 · DOI 10.1024/0300-9831/a000497

Plain-English summary written and published by Magellan Longevity · medical review by Gabriel Radu, DO (physiatrist, NPI 1376861765). We summarize what the paper reported — we did not run this study.

The takeaway

Astaxanthin may have some antioxidant effects in humans, particularly at higher doses and shorter durations, but the overall evidence is unclear.

The question

What is the antioxidant activity of astaxanthin in humans?

What they tested

The study implicitly hypothesizes that astaxanthin supplementation has an antioxidant effect in humans.

How they did it

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted using six databases, covering studies from 1948 to 2015. Nine randomized controlled trials were included in the systematic review.

What they found

Meta-analysis showed a borderline significant antioxidant effect of astaxanthin between intervention and control groups, specifically a malondialdehyde-lowering effect for lipid peroxidation. When compared to baseline in intervention groups, astaxanthin significantly decreased plasma malondialdehyde (SMD -1.32 μmol/L) and isoprostane (SMD -3.10 ng/mL), and increased superoxide dismutase (SMD 1.57 U/mL) and total antioxidant capacity (SMD 0.77 mmol). High doses (≥20 mg/day) of astaxanthin showed significant antioxidant effects, while low doses (<20 mg/day) did not. An antioxidant effect was observed after a 3-week intervention, but not after 12-week or 3-month interventions.

Effect of Astaxanthin on Oxidative Stress Markers (SMD)
Values shown: Standard Mean Difference (SMD)
Malondialdehyde-1.32
Isoprostane-3.1
Superoxide Dismutase1.57
Total Antioxidant Capacity0.77

Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) for various oxidative stress markers after astaxanthin supplementation compared to baseline in intervention groups.

What it means

The antioxidant effect of astaxanthin on humans is unclear.

Limitations

The data included in the meta-analysis were insufficient. The antioxidant effect was not observed after longer intervention durations (12-week or 3-month).

“astaxanthin significantly decreased plasma malondialdehyde, increased superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity”— from the published abstract, Int J Vitam Nutr Res 2019

The paper at a glance

TitleEffects of Astaxanthin Supplementation on Oxidative Stress
JournalInt J Vitam Nutr Res
Year2019
PMID30982442 ↗
DOI10.1024/0300-9831/a000497 ↗
TopicImmunity, inflammation & resilience

Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗

Where Magellan uses this paper

This citation sits behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are set from the research and are independent of affiliate commissions.

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Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.

Molecules & mechanisms in this paper

Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.

Astaxanthin

Cite this page

These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.

APA
Magellan Longevity. (2026). What is the antioxidant activity of astaxanthin in humans? [Plain-English summary of Int J Vitam Nutr Res 2019, PMID 30982442, DOI 10.1024/0300-9831/a000497]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d30982442.html
BibTeX
@misc{magellan_d30982442, title = {What is the antioxidant activity of astaxanthin in humans?}, author = {{Magellan Longevity}}, year = {2026}, howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d30982442.html}}, note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 30982442; DOI 10.1024/0300-9831/a000497; Int J Vitam Nutr Res 2019. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO}, urldate = {2026-08-11} }
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How this summary was made. Every section above restates what the published abstract of PMID 30982442 reports — the question, the design, the numbers, the authors’ own conclusion and their stated limitations. We do not add claims the paper did not make, and we keep negative and no-effect findings in. Magellan’s evidence grades are set from research like this and never from affiliate commissions.

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Educational information, not medical advice. This is a plain-English summary of published research; it is not a treatment recommendation and nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual studies can be wrong, and a single paper rarely settles a question. Talk to your physician before acting on any research, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication.