Yes, I did. This is profound effect from Astaxanthin confirmed by multiple blood tests without it and on it. I did not take it for hair loss and would prefer ASX to not be 5ar inhibitor, so no idea how it effects scalp DHT and hair loss. It may very well be effective for this, there seems to be no other herb that inhibits 5ar so much.
4 Likes
Then I guess you will either have to take a lower dose or quit it altogether. Alternatively try to randomize yourself to either a placebo or an astaxanthin pill to figure out whether you are actually experiencing side effects from astaxanthin or from the mere expectation of it.
1 Like
Hmmā¦ I take a decent amount of Astaxanthin and still have to shave every day (if even a day goes by without shaving, my face has stubble). Male facial hair growth is strongly correlated with DHT levels; though genetics also plays a role.
2 Likes
My DHT must have been sky high before finasteride then because my beard still grows fast. I donāt like having to shave it every day.
2 Likes
I also get stubble in less than a day and am taking both Finasteride and Astaxanthin.
3 Likes
Asta being a 5ari in vitro is very interesting, it would be great to have data whether it is in vivo. It is definitely tempting to think this would be related to its lifespan effect. 5ari increasing lifespan in male but not female mice is an explanation that could explain both asta and 17Ī±-Estradiol. It would also be exciting since 5ari is commonly used in humans as Finasteride - will they see a lifespan increase? However, Finasteride hasnāt seen decreases in all cause mortality in large studies which casts doubt on that explanation, or on the hope that it translates to humans.
It seems to me like there is more going on with asta than 5ari - such as with the sun protection it seems to give.
7 Likes
ITP testing Finasteride would be a great way to determine if the 5ari is causal for lifespan increases of those drugs.
4 Likes
Wow thatās interesting. I use TRT cream which increases DHT. Iām also on 24mg of astaxanthin per night.
I actually just did a comprehensive blood test a few days ago that included DHT, Iāll be interested to see the results of this. Iāve never tested DHT before.
(2021) Astaxantin and Isoflavones Inhibit Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Rats by Reducing Oxidative Stress and Normalizing Ca/Mg Balance https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/12/2735
"We indicated higher testosterone levels in blood serum following finasteride and astaxanthin treatment, which could be explained by the inhibition of the 5a-reductase enzyme and less conversion of testosterone to DHT in prostatic epithelial cells, but the level of DHT was not assessed in our study. Serum testosterone elevations are known to occur with the administration of finasteride and dutasteride but the values typically remain within the normal laboratory range.
In the present study, both isoflavones and astaxanthin inhibited BPH development in rats with comparable efficacy with finasteride in terms of prostate weight, prostatic epithelium proliferation and prostate tissue cumulative histology score. However, only astaxanthin yielded a significant effect on epithelial area and testosterone level in blood compared to finasteride."
(2005) A preliminary investigation of the enzymatic inhibition of 5alpha-reduction and growth of prostatic carcinoma cell line LNCap-FGC by natural astaxanthin and Saw Palmetto lipid extract in vitro A preliminary investigation of the enzymatic inhibition of 5alpha-reduction and growth of prostatic carcinoma cell line LNCap-FGC by natural astaxanthin and Saw Palmetto lipid extract in vitro - PubMed
āThe results show astaxanthin demonstrated 98% inhibition of 5alpha-reductase at 300 microg/mL in vitro.ā
Doesnāt mention what types of 5AR it inhibits.
It is in vitro, not in vivo.
8 Likes
Open Access Paper:
3 Likes
Astaxanthin or not, overdoing exercise has risks the older you get.
Beloved triathlete, teacher dies after weekend bike ride
3 Likes
Stories like this remind me to take it easy on the exercise. I like my physique. I feel most of what I like about it, is that I lost body fat so that my muscle and veins show nicely. Most of that was lost from diet (and tirzepatide/berberine), not exercise.
No point suffering, if the suffering has nothing good on the other side.
2 Likes
Anecdotes always bring a form of bias. You didnāt compare the group of thriathletes as a whole compared with matched couch potatoes. The increase in Afib is significant though and as a result the increase risk of stroke, dementia, etc.
2 Likes
Itās about people overexercising. Couch potatoes inspire me to exercise moderately lol.
1 Like
I donāt think you understood what I meant.
You always have to compare with something. Compare the overexercisers with the moderate intensity exerciser then and see what the risks and benefits are. Thatās Afib at least which is significant. Anecdotes doesnāt help because you can have someone using the best method yet still end up in poor health and dying, or vice versa the worst method but the best health and life. In this case I donāt think it is the best method because of e.g Afib.
4 Likes
Many athletes, like Jim Fixx, who died unexpectedly, had underlying conditions that caused their deaths, not their sport or exercise.
It is the rare individual who over-exercises.
Personally I am in the moderation camp.
9 Likes
Wonder what was the story behind this:
Woman running ultra marathon dies mid race
After covid: covid vaccine
Before covid: covid vaccine travelling back in time
2 Likes
Thoughts on whether astaxanthin may blunt the positive effects of exercise (like some other antioxidants and especially given its potency)?
1 Like
I dunno but I think 24mg at night every night is turning me a bit red lmao. People at work are asking if Iām ok. Iām doing fine and feel great and they donāt seem to know what I mean by āastaxanthinā and think Iām dying 
4 Likes
Astaxanthin does sound like a disease, like ataxia.
3 Likes