Astaxanthin Supplements May Lower Physical and Mental Stress

Chronic stress disrupts nearly every system in the body, including the immune system, digestive system and reproductive system. A recent study suggests that taking an astaxanthin supplement may reduce mental stress and physical fatigue.

Participants in the study included 39 people who were given either 12 mg of astaxanthin plus 20 mg of tocotrienols or a control of 20 mg of tocotreniols daily for eight weeks. Tocotreniols are one of the eight forms of vitamin E.

All of the participants underwent a physical test that involved a bicycle ergometer and a mental test that involved solving a number of timed calculations. The researchers measured mental and physical fatigue both before and after the tests.

After the tests, participants in the astaxanthin group had significantly reduced perceived symptoms of mental and physical fatigue. They noted improvements in clarity of thinking, concentration, motivation, and mood. They also noted reductions in irritation and feeling of body heaviness. Additionally, the placebo group showed an increase in errors on the mental test, a result not present in the astaxanthin group.

Researchers from AstaReal conducted the study. It was published in the 2016 issue of the Journal of Clinical Therapeutics & Medicines.

Astaxanthin has been shown to improve eye, skin and joint health and boost cognitive function. If you’re looking to increase your dietary intake of astaxanthin, consider consuming more salmon, rainbow trout, krill, and red-pigmented vegetables and fruits.