Evidence Level
Moderate
Astaxanthin has emerged as one of the most promising oral supplements for skin photoprotection and anti-aging. Tominaga et al. (2012) conducted a well-designed 16-week RCT showing that 6-12 mg/day significantly reduced wrinkle depth and improved elasticity and skin moisture compared to placebo. Ito et al. (2018) demonstrated that astaxanthin increased the minimal erythemal dose, providing internal UV protection. Its antioxidant capacity is unique among carotenoids due to its molecular structure that spans both leaflets of cell membranes, allowing it to neutralize reactive oxygen species throughout the lipid bilayer. Unlike beta-carotene, astaxanthin does not exhibit pro-oxidant activity at any concentration tested.