Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant—100 to 500 times stronger than vitamin E at neutralizing free radicals. Research suggests it may help with skin aging, eye health, and serious conditions like Alzheimer's and heart disease, though most studies so far have been in labs or animals, not large-scale human trials.

This was a review of existing research, focusing specifically on human clinical trials to separate the hype from what actually works in real people.

Funding not disclosed in abstract