Nature’s most potent antioxidant
Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring carotenoid, a type of pigment found in various microorganisms and aquatic animals such as salmon, shrimp and algae. It has powerful and potent antioxidant properties which provide many benefits including the protection of skin health.
Understanding sun damage and skin health in Midlife
Firstly, we need to understand why skin health and protection from sun damage is so important. One study by Klostermann and Bolte looked at inadequate parental sun protection behaviour in their children. The aim was to see how unprotected sun exposure during childhood led to an increased risk for skin cancer in midlife. They preformed a cross-sectional study in Bavaria where parents of 4,579 children completed a self-administered questionnaire on how they protected their children from sun exposure. Shockingly they found that more than 50% of children were inadequately protected. An article by World Health Organisation looked at the link between excessive sun exposure in children and how this contributed to skin cancer in mid life. Incredibly around 1.2 million new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer were reported as a result of excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation in 2020.
How Astaxanthin works: the science behind skin benefits
There are significant amounts of evidence which proves Astaxanthin possesses various health and skin benefits. Astaxanthin’s primary natural source is Haematococcus pluvialis, which is the microalgae that produces it as a protective antioxidant against environmental stressors, including UV radiation. Astaxanthin works by absorbing harmful UV rays and shields sensitive internal structures. It also helps detoxify the body from environmental factors which triggered pro-inflammatory and oxidative states. One systematic review of 11 clinical studies in 2020 found that taking 3 to 6 milligrams of Astaxanthin supplements a day for 4 to 16 weeks could protect the skin against UV induced damage and also minimised aging effects such as wrinkling or sunspots.
Astaxanthin vs other Antioxidants: what makes it unique
Astaxanthin is different from other antioxidants for a number of reasons. Firstly, it has the highest capacity for oxygen radical absorbency. It far exceeds other antioxidants such as Vitamin E as Astaxanthin is 550 times better at fighting of free radicals and is 6000 times better then Vitamin C. Astaxanthin has multiple biological functions such as skin health, stress tolerance and disease resistance in aquatic animals and comes without the cost of adverse effects or toxicity which makes it more unique and favourable in the market. Therefore, it’s clear Astaxanthin is a valuable nutrient for overall health.
Astaxanthin and UV protection: A natural sunscreen boost
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are created by UV radiation and can lead to oxidative stress by causing damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA in cells. Because of its antioxidant properties, astaxanthin helps to neutralise
ROS and reduce cellular damage. Therefore, Astaxanthin is an overall boost to skin health and protection against UV damage. That said, we would also recommend the use of use of a factor 30+ sunscreen most days, even when it is overcast. Our all-time fave is Screen Queen by Ultra Violette!
Sources:
Lindqvist, P.G., Epstein, E. and Landin-Olsson, M. (2022). Sun Exposure - Hazards and Benefits. Anticancer Research, 42(4), pp.1671–1677.
Klostermann, S. and Bolte, G. (2014). Determinants of inadequate parental sun protection behaviour in their children – Results of a cross-sectional study in Germany. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 217(2-3), pp.363–369.
Ellis, E. (2021). SPF: Sun Protection Foods | Food & Nutrition Magazine | Volume 10, Issue 4. [online] foodandnutrition.org. Available at: https://foodandnutrition.org/from-the-magazine/spf-sun-protection-foods/.
Zou, W., Hong, J., Yu, W., Ma, Y., Gan, J., Liu, Y., Luo, X., You, W. and Ke, C. (2023). Comprehensive Comparison of Effects of Antioxidant (Astaxanthin) Supplementation from Different Sources in Haliotis discus hannai Diet. Antioxidants, 12(8), p.1641.
Anon, (2019). Astaxanthin: The Key to a New You | Clinical Education. [online] Available at: https://www.clinicaleducation.org/resources/reviews/astaxanthin-the-key-to-a-new-you
Davinelli, S., Nielsen, M. and Scapagnini, G. (2018). Astaxanthin in Skin Health, Repair, and Disease: A Comprehensive Review. Nutrients, 10(4), p.522.