Top 6 Best Astaxanthin Supplement Brands

Astaxanthin is a reddish-orange carotenoid that’s naturally produced by microalgae, bacteria, and yeasts. It’s the reason why redfish and shellfish have that typical reddish hue because they feed on the microorganisms. The compound astaxanthin is gaining interest among researchers for its potential antioxidant properties and its association with aging mechanisms. With respect to the usage and safety levels, another study found that a maximum dosage of 8 mg per day of astaxanthin from all combined sources is suitable for healthy adults.

A number of astaxanthin supplements are readily available, but not all of them are the best astaxanthin supplement brands. Many tests are frequently conducted to evaluate the quality of supplements, and in one test, 14 out of 22 astaxanthin supplement samples failed potency tests.  

As a consumer, your choice of supplements impacts your health and you don’t want to spend your money on poor-quality supplements. In this blog, we break down what to look for when you compare the astaxanthin supplement brands and our top picks. 

Red Flags to Watch Out for Choosing the Astaxanthin Supplements Best Brand

Astaxanthin is fat-soluble and extracted from the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis. It needs careful cultivation and extraction, and it’s expensive to produce. The number with respect to potency you see on the label should be a starting point of evaluation. With tests showing that not all supplements meet the potency claims on the bottle, knowing how to spot fake brands becomes important. 

Source transparency

Synthetic astaxanthin is made from petrochemicals, but they don’t have as much clinical evidence as natural algae sources. Look at the source of astaxanthin in the supplement you choose. The common patented raw materials are AstaReal, AstaPure, and BioAstin. A brand may claim it has astaxanthin, but if it doesn’t explicitly show natural sources, you may be getting a generic form with unknown consistency. 

Cultivation and Extraction 

When microalgae are grown in an indoor environment with controlled laboratory conditions, the output and quality are higher. While outdoor cultivation is cheaper, the consistency and potency can vary. There is also a contamination risk when the outdoor environment is used. Many top-quality astaxanthin supplement brands use solvent-free extraction to produce a clean extract. When the brand you are checking out isn’t transparent about how the microalgae is cultivated or extracted, there isn’t enough information for you to evaluate. 

Carrier Oil Quality 

Astaxanthin is fat-soluble, which means it needs an oil-based carrier. Many astaxanthin supplements are available in softgel forms because of that. High-quality astaxanthin supplement brands use virgin olive oil or coconut oil as carriers for the compound. Oils like safflower oil or soybean oil are cheaper, but they can oxidize quickly, affecting the shelf life and potency of the supplement you are taking. 

Certifications

Always choose brands with GMP certification, which means they follow standardized manufacturing practices. Third-party certifications and testing in ISO accredited labs can inform you that the brand invests in ensuring purity and quality of its supplements. Some premium brands do batch specific testing so that every single bottle has the same consistency and potency. If you don’t find these certifications with a brand, you have to question their manufacturing practices and testing standards. 

Dosage 

There are some brands which claim 24 mg of astaxanthin, which is way above what researchers are testing for daily use. Just because the label says that it has a higher amount of astaxanthin, it can’t always be true. The brand may be using a poorly bioavailable form or the label can be completely misleading. In premium brands, you will find that astaxanthin supplements are available in the range of 4 mg to 12 mg concentration, which is more realistic. 

Our Top 6 Best Astaxanthin Supplement Brands

At Nutriessential, we ensure that we feature brands that are thoroughly investigated for source transparency, manufacturing quality controls, research-based formulations, non-GMO ingredients, and exclusion of fillers. We’ve shortlisted the following brands if you based on astaxanthin supplement brands reviews from our customers and brand trust. 

Jarrow Formulas: Best for Science-Based Supplements

From 1977, Jarrow Formulas has been manufacturing supplements. The astaxanthin supplements from this brand feature AstaPure and each softgel contains 12 mg concentration. The formulations use a blended carrier oil of safflower oil and olive oil that contains natural tocopherols and rosemary extract to prevent oxidation. These supplements are free from wheat, gluten, soy, dairy, egg, fish, and sesame. 

The other ingredients list of Jarrow Formulas is short, which means it doesn’t use fillers. The brand only uses suppliers that also follow cGMP compliance. From the ingredient level, the brand ensures quality. The brand has a full spectrum analytical testing lab that provides a comprehensive testing and analysis of its supplements. It also has NSF certification for its manufacturing practices and QAI certification. All the products contain non-GMO supplements as verified by IGEN and NGP certifications. 

Pros

• Uses branded astaxanthin source
• Clean and minimal excipient formulation
• Allergen-free products

Cons

• Uses safflower oil, even though takes additional measures to prevent oxidation
• Gelatin softgels may not be suitable for vegans

User reviews: The consistent texture and color across batches is noticed by long-term users. In many user reviews, people have noticed a difference when they switched to another brand instead of Jarrow Formulas and they returned back to this brand. 

Life Extension: Best for Bioavailability Focused Users

Life Extension pays as much attention to the delivery mechanism as to the ingredient quality. Their popular astaxanthin supplement contains a proprietary blend of 80 mg of carrier phospholipids from sunflower extracts. According to the brand, this blend improves absorption as the micelles transport the nutrients more effectively. The brand has purposefully used this blend after extensively researching about how it integrates with the lipid bilayer of cells. 

The ideology behind the focus on carrier oil is that low dose ingredients are better absorbed by supporting carriers. That’s why the brand offers 4 mg formulations. Whether it’s right for you depends on why you’re choosing astaxanthin supplements. The 4 mg dosage is at the lower end and it may be supportive for daily goals. Individuals looking to support athletic performance usually prefer a higher dosage. 

Life Extension manufactures all its supplements in the USA and they are non-GMO and gluten-free. Their manufacturing facilities are NSF registered and ConsumerLab approves many products from this brand. The company allows users to request certificate of analysis for some of their products. They take measures to ensure that the raw materials are free from heavy metals and contaminants. 

Pros

• Uses phospholipids to improve absorption
• Astaxanthin is from algae sources
• Non-GMO and gluten-free

Cons

• 4 mg dosage is on the lower end 
• No specific information for astaxanthin cultivation 
• Softgel uses gelatin

User reviews: Many users like the phospholipid formulation and the ideology of the Life Extension brand. 

Dr. Mercola: Best for Organic Ingredient Formulation 

All products from Dr. Mercola are manufactured under the direct oversight of Dr. Joseph Mercola, a best selling author and an American osteopathic physician. He regularly educates people about alternative medicine and the philosophy behind his brand. 

According to the brand, the organic astaxanthin is grown in pure and clean glass tubes. This company doesn’t cultivate astaxanthin in open ponds. Also, the formulation is free from preservatives, chemical solvents, residues, and plasticizers. It’s available in two strengths 4 mg and 12 mg, making it possible for consumers to choose a dosage that fits their lifestyle. It uses organic olive oil carrier. The brand specifically uses hard shell capsules for astaxanthin supplements because it wants to avoid using plasticizers commonly used in softgels. 

With all supplements from this brand, you can see a stop light label that shows yellow, green or red based on how the product can potentially impact your gut and digestion. This allows you to choose a supplement based on how you want to support digestion. Astaxanthin is labeled green, which means it’s gentle on the gut. 

The physician formulated supplements from this brand uses clean and non-GMO ingredients. They don’t use fillers or processing aids like magnesium stearate. You won’t find artificial sweeteners, phthalates, and polyethylene glycol either. In many products, the brand uses certified Biodynamic and organic ingredients without soy and gluten. It uses ethically sourced and sustainable ingredients. All products are manufactured in GMP facilities and they are packaged in either glass or recyclable plastic, conforming to the brand’s sustainability standards. 

Pros

• Uses organically certified astaxanthin
• Offers 4 mg and 12 mg dosages 
• Uses organic olive oil carrier 

Cons

• Premium pricing
• Uses fish tilapia capsule

User reviews: Many users use Dr Mercola products knowing that its physician formulated. 

Douglas Laboratories: Best for Practitioner-guided Routine

Douglas Laboratories is one of the supplement brands that has been under healthcare practitioner distribution since 1955. For so many decades, it has a close association with healthcare experts who guide supplementation routine and lifestyle for people. The company has a medical board of MDs, PhDs, physicians, and medicine practitioners who are involved in formulation decisions also.

The unique feature about astaxanthin supplement from this brand is that it’s not a standalone single-ingredient formulation. Astaxanthin is one of the ingredients in its K2-D3 formulation. The vitamins K2 and D3 work together and 2mg of astaxanthin is also included. The source is a Supercriticial Co2 extract of the entire plant Haematococcus pluvialis. While 2 mg is a lower dose, the combined formulation may be used in practitioner guided routines.

Douglas labs manufactures all supplements in GMP compliant NSF registered facilities. Its in-house lab for testing is ISO certified. Along with in-house testing, the brand also ensures third-party testing of its materials and finished products. The brand’s manufacturing facility is also approved to manufactured NSF Certified for Sport products.

Pros

• Has ISO 17025:2017 accredited lab
• NSF International registered facility, approved for NSF Certified for Sports product
• Solvent-free and clean astaxanthin extraction

Cons

• Not a standalone astaxanthin supplement
• Premium pricing

User reviews: Those who are closely following practitioner guided routines prefer products from Douglas Laboratories.

Now Foods: Best for Transparent Formulations

Since 1968, Now Foods has been a family-owned supplement company. The brand is committed to transparency in all its ingredients and products. The testing we mentioned in the beginning of the article about astaxanthin supplements is actually conducted by Now Foods. This company tests supplements from other brands and also sends its own products to independent testing laboratories to help consumers be aware of the fraud. They publish these test results publicly and also share the results with the brands and companies like Amazon directly to ensure that fake products don’t get into the hands of consumers. This level of accountability is unmatched and that’s why we consider it as one of the best astaxanthin supplement brands.

Astaxanthin supplement from Now Foods contains AstaReal, a clinically studied branded raw material. You can find 4 mg, 10 mg and 12 mg dosage of astaxanthin supplements with organic extra virgin olive oil carrier. Mixed tocopherols are also included to preserve freshness. The standard 4 mg version has a vegetarian softgel option.

Now Foods has NPA A-rating for GMP certification program since 2000 and also have UL facility compliance under the NBCP framework. They are also audited and certified by Intertek and SSCI. The analytical and microbiological lab has ISO/IEC 17025. When you see a supplement that says organic ingredient, it means it carries USDA Organic certification. Many products also have non-GMO certification. Several athletic focused supplements have Informed Sport certification too. You can also find Kosher an Halal certified products from this brand.

While the pricing is competitive, it’s not a cheap brand. The brand passes value to the consumers without missing quality.

Pros

• Uses branded astaxanthin
• Contains veggie softgel option
• Uses extra virgin olive oil
• Publishes results of fraud testing
• Competitive pricing

Cons

• Large production scale

User reviews: Users of Now Foods appreciate the brand for offering high-quality branded raw material such as AstaReal without the premium pricing tag. The company’s commitment to transparency is one of the reasons why users keep coming back to this brand. 

Protocol for Life Balance: Best for Practitioner-guidance Based Users

We’ve included this in our list of best astaxanthin supplement brands because it’s one of the few practitioner-exclusive brands. It has highly vetted formulas with high potency and are often used in practitioner guided routines. The brand ensures that there are no fillers and the labeling is accurate.

The company uses 100% organic Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae extracts. It offers high-dose formulations with 10 mg and 12 mg options. The 12 mg dosage uses veggie softgels. The organic extra virgin olive oil provides the oil carrier base.

The NPA A-rated GMP-certified facilities produce supplements for this brand. For internal testing, this brand uses ISO/IEC 17025 accredited labs. The physical supply chain is audited based on the UL NBCP program. If you notice, it’s very similar to Now Foods because both are operated by the same parent company. While Now Foods focuses on creating high-quality supplements for general users, Protocol for Balance features supplements mainly for practitioner use.

Pros

• A-rated GMP manufacturing
• Offers 12 mg astaxanthin veggie softgel
• Uses organic astaxanthin and extra virgin olive oil
• Practitioner-grade formulation

Cons

• Premium pricing

User reviews: Many users feel that the veggie softgel is easier to tolerate than the gelatine one.

How to Choose the Right Brand for You

We’ve listed some of the best astaxanthin supplement brands, and the right one for you must suit your needs. If you are new to astaxanthin supplements and need a reliable and well-sourced product, you may opt for Now Foods or Jarrow Formulas, featuring branded raw material, transparent testing, and value per dose. Dr. Mercola is a physician formulated with clean organic ingredients.

In case you work with healthcare practitioners, you may look at Douglas Laboratories or Protocol Life Balance based on what they have recommended for you. If you are looking for a supplement that’s known for its absorption quality, phospholipid form from Life Extension may be worth considering. The options are, however, limited if you are looking for veggie softgels.

You can find these non-GMO supplement options at Nutriessential. We source all our featured supplements directly from manufacturers, so you can rest assured knowing that you are getting a fresh batch every time you order. For personalized guidance, you can connect with our healthcare experts.

Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information is based on publicly available data and brand disclosures, which may change over time. Individual responses to supplements vary, and outcomes are not guaranteed. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you have a medical condition, are pregnant, or are taking medication.

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