Astaxanthin

Pronunciation: as-tuh-ZAN-thin.

Generic name
astaxanthin
Drug class
Carotenoid dietary supplement
Form
Capsule, softgel, or liquid dietary supplement
Route
Oral
Legal status
Dietary supplement (not a medicine)

Availability and supply rules vary by country

Trade names by country: United States

Australia: · Full directory

What astaxanthin is and how it works

Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring carotenoid pigment found in some marine organisms and produced commercially from microalgae. It is available as a dietary supplement, not a drug, and has been assessed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as a novel food ingredient in food supplements. (1)

Astaxanthin is marketed and regulated as a dietary/food supplement, not as an approved prescription or OTC drug. The EFSA has established a maximum daily intake of 8 mg for adults in food supplements. Children and adolescents should not take adult-dose supplements. Always speak with a healthcare professional before starting any dietary supplement.

Mechanism of action: how astaxanthin works

Astaxanthin is a red-orange carotenoid pigment that does not convert to vitamin A in the human body, unlike some other carotenoids such as beta-carotene. Mechanism-of-action and disease-related pharmacology beyond this are not established in the sources reviewed for this page. (1) (2)

What astaxanthin is used for

Dietary supplement use

Astaxanthin is marketed as a dietary supplement and is not approved as a medicine for any specific condition. The EFSA safety assessment covers its use as a novel food ingredient in food supplements for adults, recommending a maximum of 8 mg per day. (1)

Before taking astaxanthin

Do not take / not appropriate for

  • Do not give adult-dose (8 mg) astaxanthin supplements to children or adolescents under 18 years of age. EFSA modelling shows that adolescents aged 14 to under 18 would reach (not exceed) the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) at this dose, while younger children would exceed it, with the margin of exceedance growing larger the younger the child (for example, toddlers would exceed the ADI by over 300%). (children and adolescents) (1)
  • Do not take astaxanthin supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless specifically advised by a healthcare professional. There is insufficient safety data for use in these groups. (pregnancy and breastfeeding) (2)

Tell your clinician about

  • If you are considering taking astaxanthin supplements while pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding.
  • If you have any pre-existing liver condition, as animal studies noted adaptive liver enzyme changes (not considered adverse), but individual clinical context matters.
  • If you are considering any supplement for a child or adolescent -- the sources reviewed for this page establish only that the adult 8 mg dose is not appropriate for anyone under 18, not a specific paediatric dosing regimen, so this must be a clinician's individualised decision.
  • Full list of all medicines, supplements, and herbal products you are taking, even though no specific drug interactions have been identified in regulatory reviews.
(1) (2)

How to take astaxanthin

  • Take astaxanthin supplements with a meal containing some fat, as it is a fat-soluble compound and absorption may be improved.
  • For adults, do not exceed 8 mg astaxanthin per day from food supplements, as recommended by EFSA.
  • Do not give adult-dose supplements to children or adolescents; a specific paediatric dosing regimen is not established in the sources reviewed for this page, so any use in someone under 18 must be an individualised decision made with a healthcare professional.
  • Follow the manufacturer's directions on the product label or the advice of your healthcare professional.
(1) (2)

Procedures and treatment changes

Tell the treating team before surgery, procedures, or any medicine change. Do not alter treatment without the responsible clinician. (1)

Missed dose

As a general precaution with any supplement, do not take an extra dose to make up for one you missed -- check the product label or ask a pharmacist for guidance.

Overdose

If you are concerned you or someone else has taken significantly more than the recommended amount, contact a poison information centre or seek medical advice.

Side effects

The commonly reported effects below are the ones identified in the sources reviewed for this page. No mutagenic or carcinogenic properties have been identified.

Increased bowel movements

What to notice: More frequent stools than normal.

What to do: Usually harmless and temporary; if severe or persistent, consult a healthcare professional. (2)

Red/pink discoloration of stool

What to notice: Stool appears reddish or pinkish. This is caused by the pigment in astaxanthin and is not blood.

What to do: No action needed unless accompanied by other concerning symptoms; then consult a healthcare professional. (2)

Mild stomach discomfort

What to notice: Temporary stomach upset, bloating, or mild pain.

What to do: Astaxanthin is fat-soluble and is generally taken with a meal containing some fat for better absorption. If discomfort persists or worsens, speak with a healthcare professional. (2)

Serious warnings

Animal-study liver enzyme changes (EFSA safety assessment) — note

Symptoms: In animal studies reviewed by EFSA, adaptive liver enzyme induction was observed; this was considered non-adverse and not a sign of liver damage at the studied doses. Whether this has any relevance to human supplement use has not been established in the sources reviewed for this page.

Action: The sources reviewed for this page do not establish a specific list of astaxanthin adverse-reaction warning signs beyond the mild effects noted under Side Effects. As with any supplement, seek prompt medical attention for any unexplained or concerning new symptom -- let the clinician you see advise on whether to continue or stop the supplement. (1) (2)

Interactions

Medicine or testEffectAction
No specific drug interactions identifiedThe available regulatory safety data (EFSA) does not report any confirmed drug–drug interactions with astaxanthin.Always inform your healthcare professional about all supplements and medicines you are taking. (1)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, kidney/liver function, age

Children and adolescents

EFSA modelling shows that an adult 8 mg daily dose would reach the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 0.2 mg/kg body weight/day for adolescents aged 14 to under 18, and exceed it for younger children, with the margin of exceedance growing larger the younger the child (for example, toddlers would exceed the ADI by 309%, children 3-<10 years by 123%). Therefore, adult-dose supplements must not be given to anyone under 18. A specific paediatric dosing regimen is not established in the sources reviewed for this page, so any use in a child or adolescent must be an individualised decision made with a healthcare professional. (1)

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

There is insufficient safety data to recommend astaxanthin supplements during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Avoid use unless a healthcare professional specifically advises otherwise. (2)

Monitoring

Before starting

  • Discuss any underlying health conditions with a healthcare professional before starting.

During treatment

  • If you experience any concerning side effects, consult a healthcare professional.

Storage

Follow the storage instructions on your product's own label, and keep out of reach of children.

Professional information

Dietary supplement ingredient only. This information does not constitute a treatment recommendation. Refer to the latest EFSA assessment and local regulatory status for accurate guidance.

European Union (EFSA food-supplement safety assessment; supplement regulation varies by country)

Indication: Dietary supplement use

Dose summary: For adults, the EFSA-recommended maximum daily intake from food supplements is 8 mg astaxanthin (ADI 0.2 mg/kg body weight/day). A specific paediatric dosing regimen is not established in the sources reviewed for this page; the adult 8 mg dose is not appropriate for anyone under 18. There is no approved therapeutic dose.

Renal context: No specific renal or hepatic impairment dosing adjustments are available from primary regulatory sources; individual clinical judgement is required. (1)

Mechanism of action

Hepatic guidance

Animal studies reviewed by EFSA showed adaptive cytochrome P450 enzyme induction without adverse findings; clinical implications for human hepatic function are unknown.

Frequently asked questions

Is astaxanthin a medicine?

No, astaxanthin is a dietary supplement ingredient, not a drug. It is not approved to treat any disease or condition. (1)

How much astaxanthin can I take daily?

For adults, EFSA recommends a maximum of 8 mg per day from food supplements. Do not exceed this amount unless a healthcare professional advises otherwise. (1)

Can I give astaxanthin to my child?

No, not the adult 8 mg dose -- EFSA's modelling shows this dose reaches the safe intake limit for adolescents (14 to under 18) and exceeds it for younger children. A specific paediatric dosing regimen isn't established in the sources reviewed for this page, so any decision to use astaxanthin in a child or adolescent should be made individually with a healthcare professional. (1)

Does astaxanthin turn into vitamin A?

No. Unlike beta‑carotene, astaxanthin does not convert to vitamin A, so it does not carry the same risk of vitamin A toxicity. (2)

Why does my stool look red after taking astaxanthin?

The red colour is from the astaxanthin pigment itself; it is harmless and not blood. If you are concerned or have other symptoms, consult a healthcare professional. (2)

What is the mechanism of action of astaxanthin?

Astaxanthin is a red-orange carotenoid pigment that does not convert to vitamin A in the human body, unlike some other carotenoids such as beta-carotene. Mechanism-of-action and disease-related pharmacology beyond this are not established in the sources reviewed for this page. (1) (2)

What is the generic name of Astaxanthin?

The generic name is astaxanthin. (1)

What class of drug is astaxanthin?

Astaxanthin is classed as: Carotenoid dietary supplement. (1)

References

  1. Safety of astaxanthin for its use as a novel food in food supplementsEuropean Food Safety Authority (EFSA) · European Union · dated 2020 · accessed 2026-08-05 · source 1
  2. Astaxanthin supplement safety and usage summaryMultiple public health information sources (WebMD, Examine.com) · Global · accessed 2026-08-05 · source 2
  3. TOBAKIENT (ASCORBIC ACID, CHOLECALCIFEROL, RIBOFLAVIN, PYRIDOXINE HCL, FOLIC ACID, L-GLUTATHIONE, ASTAXANTHIN) CAPSULE [LEVINS PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC] — US prescribing information (DailyMed SPL)U.S. National Library of Medicine (DailyMed) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 3
  4. astaxanthin — RxNorm normalized drug concept (RXCUI 18451)U.S. National Library of Medicine (RxNorm) · US · accessed 2026-08-14 · source 4

Brand names by country

Single-ingredient astaxanthin names are shown separately by country. Product availability, strengths, and supply rules can change; combination products are not included here.

Priority countries

United States

  • Doctor's BestDoctor's Best
  • Dr. MercolaDr. Mercola
  • NOWNOW
  • DCDC
  • NutricostNutricost
  • Source NaturalsSource Naturals
  • ProCaps LaboratoriesProCaps Laboratories
  • Higher NatureHigher Nature
  • SwansonSwanson
  • California Gold NutritionCalifornia Gold Nutrition
View brands in additional countries.