Recent Advancements of Astaxanthin from an Animal Feed to a Therapeutic Agent in Humans—A Meta-Analysis Overview

Abstract

Astaxanthin is a well-known antioxidant; however, it is mostly used in aquafeed to enrich the animal flesh color. Its antioxidant properties are undervalued and underutilized in human applications. This antioxidant has many potential benefits in improving the human immune system functions including Alzheimer’s disease, treating aging problems, etc. However, there is minimal scientific evidence to justify these claims. This meta-analysis investigates the available literature in relation to the direct application of astaxanthin in humans for various health benefits. This article mainly focuses on the clinical research conducted directly on human subjects testing various health benefits of astaxanthin over the past ten years. Some research articles published during this period may have been missed unintentionally.