title: Safety of an astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus pluvialis algal extract: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: A growing body of scientific literature indicates that astaxanthin is a more powerful antioxidant than other carotenoids and vitamin E and may confer numerous health benefits. The purpose of this investigation was to conduct a human safety study with a Haematococcus pluvialis algal extract with high levels of astaxanthin. Thirty-five healthy adults age 35-69 years were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 8 weeks' duration. All participants took three gelcaps per day, one at each meal. Nineteen participants received gelcaps with an algal extract in safflower oil, containing 2 mg of astaxanthin each (treatment); 16 participants received gelcaps containing safflower oil only (placebo). Blood pressure and blood chemistry tests, including a comprehensive metabolic panel and cell blood count, were conducted at the beginning of the trial and after 4 and 8 weeks of supplementation. No significant differences were detected between the treatment and the placebo groups after 8 weeks of supplementation with the algal extract in the parameters analyzed, except for serum calcium, total protein, and eosinophils (P <.01). Although the differences in these three parameters were statistically significant, they were very small and are of no clinical importance. These results reveal that 6 mg of astaxanthin per day from a H. pluvialis algal extract can be safely consumed by healthy adults.
authors.affiliation: Health Research and Studies Center, Los Altos, CA 94023, USA. spiller@sphere.org
authors.forename: Gene A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Spiller
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dewell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D004804:Eosinophils; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D010919:Placebos; D024341:Xanthophylls; D019207:beta Carotene; C005948:astaxanthine; D002118:Calcium