Natural Factors Natural Factors - Astaxanthin 6mg, 60 sgel

Price

Regular Canadian retail price: $26.98 CAD. Price Vault members pay below retail on this product. Member pricing is private and shown after a free opt-in, with no membership fee, no minimum order and no subscription.

In stock. Free shipping across Canada on orders over $89, flat $9.95 under that. 30 days to request a return, with return shipping paid by the customer. Ships from Victoria, BC.

See member pricing on Natural Factors Natural Factors - Astaxanthin 6mg

Why people keep reordering it

Best suited to: eyes tired by evening after screen work, skin losing bounce and holding less moisture, training hard and eating little colour, want a carotenoid that is not vitamin a.

What the research supports

Each softgel provides 6 mg of astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis algae, suspended in flax oil. The bottle holds a two-month supply at one a day.

Trials mostly use 4 to 12 mg a day.

Skin elasticity (evidence: moderate, from randomized controlled trial)

Astaxanthin sits inside skin cell membranes and blunts the UV-driven oxidation that breaks down collagen. Randomized trials at 6 mg daily over 8 to 16 weeks found measurable gains in hydration and elasticity, though most were small.

Eye fatigue (evidence: limited, from randomized controlled trial, small human trials)

Astaxanthin crosses into the eye and is thought to ease the ciliary muscle strain behind screen fatigue. Testing is limited to a handful of small trials, mostly from one research group.

Oxidative stress (evidence: moderate, from randomized controlled trial)

Astaxanthin sits inside cell membranes, the exact spot where fats get oxidized. Human trials show it measurably lowers markers of that oxidation in blood.

Exercise recovery (evidence: mixed, from randomized controlled trial)

Astaxanthin is thought to blunt the oxidative burst hard exercise triggers in muscle tissue. Trials in trained athletes disagree, some reporting less soreness and lower damage markers, others finding no difference from placebo.

Read the literature: Skin elasticity on PubMed, Eye fatigue on PubMed, Oxidative stress on PubMed, Exercise recovery on PubMed.

Is it right for you

Worth it if

Eyes tired by evening after screen work

The small trials on visual fatigue ran at 6 mg daily, which is exactly one softgel here.

Skin losing bounce and holding less moisture

The elasticity and hydration trials used 6 mg a day for two to four months, and this bottle is two months of that.

Training hard and eating little colour

Astaxanthin concentrates in the cell membranes where oxidative stress from hard training does its damage, and it needs no conversion to work.

Want a carotenoid that is not vitamin A

Astaxanthin has no provitamin A activity, so it does not add to your retinol intake the way beta carotene does.

Look elsewhere if

Vegetarians and vegans

The pigment is from algae but the softgel shell is gelatin. An astaxanthin in a vegetarian capsule gets you the same carotenoid without it.

Specifically after macular support

Lutein and zeaxanthin are the carotenoids that actually accumulate in the macula. Astaxanthin does not build up there, so buy those two if that is the goal.

Wants broad antioxidant coverage cheaply

This is one carotenoid at one dose. A vitamin C and E pair, or a mixed carotenoid formula, covers more ground for less money.

What to expect

Nothing dramatic and nothing fast. The skin trials measured their changes at six to sixteen weeks, so plan on two bottles before judging it. The one thing people sometimes notice sooner is skin that reddens less readily in the sun, which small trials picked up as well.

How it compares

Compared with krill oil, which naturally contains astaxanthin

Krill oil carries well under a milligram of astaxanthin per capsule, so getting to 6 mg from krill alone is not realistic. One softgel here does it. The tradeoff: Krill oil also brings EPA and DHA. This brings flax oil, which is a carrier for the pigment, not a meaningful omega-3 dose.

Compared with synthetic astaxanthin

This is the naturally derived pigment from Haematococcus, which arrives largely bound to fatty acids the way it exists in the algae, rather than the free synthetic form made for fish feed. The tradeoff: Naturally sourced astaxanthin costs several times more per milligram, and head-to-head human comparisons of the two forms are thin.

Product details

Medicinal ingredients

Haematococcus pluvialis (whole), Providing

Ingredient form

sgel

Strength

6 mg

Servings per container

60

Suggested use

1 softgel once daily or as directed by a health care practitioner.

Country of manufacture

Canada

Independent testing

ISURA

Certifications

Non-GMO, Made in Canada

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place

Brand

Natural Factors

How to take it

1 softgel once daily or as directed by a health care practitioner.

• Store in a cool, dry place away from direct light.
• Keep out of reach of children.
• Consult a practitioner if you are pregnant, nursing or on medication.

Ingredients

Non-medicinal ingredients

Softgel (gelatin, glycerin, water), flax oil.

Free from

Contains no artificial colours, preservatives, or sweeteners; no dairy, starch, sugar, wheat, gluten, yeast, soy, corn, egg, fish, shellfish, salt, tree nuts, or genetically modified genes or proteins.

Interactions and cautions

Medications

May interact with certain prescription medications. Review with your pharmacist if you take daily medication.

Timing

Separate from medications by 2 to 4 hours unless directed otherwise by a healthcare practitioner.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Consult a healthcare practitioner before use if pregnant or breastfeeding.

General

Use only as directed. Discontinue and consult a practitioner if you experience an adverse reaction.

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. Consult a healthcare practitioner before use. Free certified advisors are available at 1-888-386-1211, Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm PT.

Questions about Natural Factors - Astaxanthin 6mg

Is this the genuine, authentic product?

Yes. It is identical to what you would pay full price for anywhere else, sourced through our authorized supplier relationships.

How is the price below retail?

We buy direct, with nobody in the middle taking a cut, and we sell it for close to what we paid. You see the price privately because you have unlocked the Vault.

How fast does it ship?

Orders placed before 12pm PT are processed the same day and ship within two business days. Shipping is free over $89, and a flat $9.95 under that.

Can I return it?

You have 30 days after it arrives to request a return. Product must be unused, in its original packaging, with proof of purchase, and return shipping is paid by you. Find it cheaper anywhere in Canada and we will match the price.