ALSUntangled # 69: astaxanthin.
Timothy FullamCarmel ArmonPaul BarkhausBenjamin BarnesMorgan BeauchampMichael BenatarTulio BertoriniRobert BowserMark BrombergJavier Mascias CadavidGregory T CarterMazen DimachkieDave EnnistEva L FeldmanTerry Heiman-PattersonSartaj JhootyIsaac LundChristopher J McDermottGary PatteeDylan RatnerPaul WicksRichard BedlackPublished in: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis & frontotemporal degeneration (2023)
ALSUntangled reviews alternative and off-label treatments for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (PALS). Here we review astaxanthin which has plausible mechanisms for slowing ALS progression including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects. While there are no ALS-specific pre-clinical studies, one verified "ALS reversal" occurred in a person using a combination of alternative therapies which included astaxanthin. There have been no trials of astaxanthin in people living with ALS. Natural astaxanthin appears to be safe and inexpensive. Based on the above information, we support further pre-clinical and/or clinical trials of astaxanthin in disease models and PALS, respectively, to further elucidate efficacy.