People have shown more interest lately in the possible health benefits of astaxanthin which is present in different sea creatures and has potent antioxidant qualities. Much attention is given to how the disease alters vision. More and more people are looking to astaxanthin, a natural supplement, when myopia, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) become more common.
What is Astaxanthin?
The pink - red color of salmon, shrimp and crabs is due to astaxanthin, a carotenoid pigment. Some microalgae such as Haematococcus pluvialis, produce astaxanthin and are harvested for astaxanthin extraction. The chemical structure of astaxanthin is different from other carotenoids due to its belonging to the xanthophyll subclass which helps explain why it has strong antioxidant effects.
One reason salmon look red is because astaxanthin is a very powerful antioxidant found in nature. The levels of antioxidant activity in this tea are much higher than that of vitamin C, vitamin E and beta - carotene. The strong antioxidant qualities of astaxanthin enable it to neutralize free radicals which can cause harm to cells and the eyes.
How Does Astaxanthin Interact with the Eye?
Eyes are affected daily by oxidative stress from sunlight, screens and the usual workings of the body. As a result of oxidative stress, the delicate eye tissues, for instance the retina, lens and macula, may be damaged with time. Because astaxanthin is very powerful in fighting free radicals, it could help defend the eyes from various sources of damage.
A prime way astaxanthin advantages vision is by permeating the blood-retina barrier. The barrier is a membrane that very carefully separates the blood vessels in the eye from the neural retina. After the barrier has been passed, astaxanthin is able to reach retina cells and support healthy vision by providing antioxidants. Astaxanthin present in the retina helps to neutralize free radicals caused by light and other factors which helps protect photoreceptors as well as other retinal nerves.
Astaxanthin could benefit the blood vessels found in the eyes. It may help the retina by making the blood vessels larger and lowering the possibility of blood clots. When the blood flows better in the vessels, the necessary amount of oxygen and nutrition goes to the retinal cells, allowing eyes to stay healthy.
Research Evidence on Astaxanthin and Vision
A number of studies have considered whether astaxanthin could improve eye health. A number of animal experiments have shown that supplements containing astaxanthin reduce the amount of oxidative damage in the eyes and protect eye tissue from various insults. In this type of study with rats, rats given astaxanthin revealed less retinal damage than did the control rats.
Some human studies indicate that astaxanthin is good for the health of the eyes. Certain clinical trials showed that taking astaxanthin supplements might enhance visual acuity for people with certain eye problems. In cases of mild to moderate dry eye syndrome, ensuring patients use astaxanthin supplements seems to lower their complaints of dryness, itchiness and difficulty seeing clearly. Also, some studies have found that astaxanthin could reduce the likelihood of AMD. Oxidative stress is thought to help cause AMD which is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults. Also, astaxanthin can help bring down oxidative stress in the macula and this might slow down retinopathy's development.
Other Factors Affecting Vision and Astaxanthin's Role
While astaxanthin could support eye health, vision depends on many different elements. You also need other important nutrients such as vitamins A, C and E; lutein, zeaxanthin and omega - 3 fatty acids, for the continued health of your eyes. Lutein and zeaxanthin have the role of absorbing blue light in the macula. Omega - 3 fatty acids are needed for a healthy retina.
How someone lives greatly influences their risk. To have better overall health, including for your eyes, go for exercise, don't smoke and keep your body away from environmental toxins. It is also necessary to shield the eyes from too much sunlight and blue light using sunglasses and special glasses for screen use. Astaxanthin is an additional support for vision health and it should be used with other dietary and lifestyle practices.
Conclusion
All in all, astaxanthin could be very helpful for improving eyesight. Its strong antioxidant abilities shield the eyes from stress caused by free radicals, pass through the blood-retina barrier to help retinal cells and increase circulation in the eye area. Experiments in animals and humans prove that Essential Nutrients are beneficial for the eyes by improving vision and shielding against various eye diseases. A lot more testing is needed to determine the proper dose, the long - term results and the ideal method for including astaxanthin in a vision improvement plan.
If you are interested in learning more about astaxanthin and how it may benefit your vision, or if you have specific questions regarding eye health supplements, please feel free to contact us at donna@kingsci.com.
References
- Johnson, E. J., & Vishwanathan, R. (2020). The Role of Carotenoids in Eye Health. Nutrients, 12(11), 3484.
- Miki, W. (2019). Astaxanthin: A Review of its Chemistry and Biological Functions. In Antioxidants in Foods (pp. 129 - 148). Academic Press.
- Li, Y., et al. (2021). Astaxanthin Protects against Oxidative Stress - Induced Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Injury. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2021, 6660379.
