Astaxanthin Boosts Cycling Endurance, Study Shows

study PMID: 40615903

Quick Summary: A recent study found that taking astaxanthin, a natural antioxidant, improved cycling performance and helped reduce muscle damage in young men. This suggests it could be beneficial for athletes looking to boost endurance and recover faster.

What The Research Found

The study showed that young men who took astaxanthin performed better in a cycling time trial. They also had less muscle damage and lower levels of oxidative stress (a type of cell damage) after exercise. This means astaxanthin might help athletes cycle further and recover more quickly.

Study Details

Who was studied: 32 young, healthy men.

How long: The study lasted for 4 weeks.

What they took: Participants took either astaxanthin or a placebo (a dummy pill). The astaxanthin dosage was 12 mg per day.

What This Means For You

If you're an athlete or regularly exercise, astaxanthin could potentially help you:

Cycle or exercise for longer.

Reduce muscle soreness after workouts.

Recover faster from intense training.

However, it's important to remember that this study focused on young men. More research is needed to see if these benefits apply to women or older adults.

Study Limitations

The study only included young men, so the results might not apply to everyone.

The study was relatively short (4 weeks), so we don't know the long-term effects.

The study used a simulated cycling course, which may not fully reflect real-world performance.

Key Findings

The study demonstrated that astaxanthin supplementation significantly improved cycling time trial performance and reduced markers of muscle damage and oxidative stress in young male adults. Participants showed a 4.2% increase in mean power output during a 20-km time trial (p=0.012) compared to placebo. Significant reductions were observed in creatine kinase (CK; -28.7%, p=0.003) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; -22.1%, p=0.008) post-exercise, indicating attenuated muscle damage. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, decreased by 19.4% (p=0.019), confirming reduced oxidative stress. The authors concluded astaxanthin enhances endurance performance while mitigating exercise-induced physiological stress.

Study Design

This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. The sample comprised 32 healthy young males (mean age: 24.3 ± 2.1 years; VO₂max: 52.4 ± 4.7 mL/kg/min), randomly assigned to astaxanthin (n=16) or placebo (n=16). Participants completed baseline and post-intervention cycling time trials (20-km simulated course) with blood draws pre- and 24h post-exercise to assess biomarkers. The intervention lasted 4 weeks.

Dosage & Administration

Participants received 12 mg/day of natural astaxanthin (from Haematococcus pluvialis extract) or an identical placebo capsule. Supplements were administered orally once daily with a meal. Compliance was monitored via capsule counts (>95% adherence).

Results & Efficacy

Astaxanthin significantly increased mean power output (3.8 ± 0.4 vs. 3.6 ± 0.3 W/kg; Δ=4.2%, 95% CI: 1.8–6.6%, p=0.012) and reduced time to complete the trial (Δ=-2.9%, p=0.021). CK levels were 28.7% lower post-intervention versus placebo (187.2 ± 42.1 vs. 261.5 ± 58.3 U/L; p=0.003), with similar effects for LDH (382.6 ± 76.4 vs. 491.2 ± 89.7 U/L; p=0.008). MDA decreased significantly (2.8 ± 0.6 vs. 3.5 ± 0.7 μmol/L; p=0.019). No significant changes occurred in inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α).

Limitations

The study was limited to young males, restricting generalizability to females or older populations. The 4-week duration may not reflect long-term effects. Sample size (n=32) provided moderate statistical power but limited subgroup analysis. Dietary intake was not strictly controlled, potentially confounding results. Only one exercise modality (cycling) was tested, and performance metrics lacked ecological validity (simulated course).

Clinical Relevance

For athletes and active individuals, 12 mg/day of astaxanthin may enhance cycling endurance and accelerate recovery by reducing muscle damage and oxidative stress. The effect size (4.2% power increase) is meaningful for competitive performance. However, benefits appear specific to high-intensity endurance exercise; applicability to strength training or other sports remains unconfirmed. Users should prioritize established ergogenic aids (e.g., caffeine, creatine) first, as astaxanthin’s performance effects, while statistically significant, are modest. Further research in diverse populations and real-world competition settings is warranted.