Healthspan by Design: From the Hallmarks of Aging to the Multifunctional Benefits of AstaReal® Astaxanthin

By: Susan Hamrahi|
September 22, 2026

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Categories: Healthy Aging, Product Development

Tags: antioxidant, exercise, health, mitochondria, muscle

Recently, our AstaReal APAC colleagues published a compelling article in NutraIngredients exploring how the evolving focus on healthspan is reshaping the way nutrition products for healthy aging are conceptualized and developed. Rather than simply combining “longevity ingredients,” formulators are invited to take a more targeted, science-led approach: define the healthspan outcome that matters, identify the interconnected biology that supports it, and then select ingredients backed by meaningful human evidence capable of being translated into a viable product.

The hallmarks of aging provide a useful biological framework for this approach, but they should be viewed as an interconnected network; not simply a checklist of individual targets. Healthspan encompasses physical and cognitive function, metabolic health, sensory health, resilience and the ability to maintain function over time. This shifts the focus from simply addressing age-related decline to supporting the biological capacity that helps people remain active and functional throughout all life stages.

Astaxanthin illustrates this healthspan-oriented approach. Its relevance extends across multiple interconnected biological processes. Research has identified effects involving   adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), sirtuin (SIRT1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) cellular signaling pathways involved in energy sensing, mitochondrial adaptation and energy metabolism.

Think of these processes as part of a cellular energy-management network:

• AMPK: the cellular energy sensor.
  AMPK responds when a cell experiences increased energy demand, such as during exercise or when cellular energy is low. It helps the cell adapt by promoting processes that generate or conserve energy. In skeletal muscle, AMPK signaling is associated with glucose and fatty-acid metabolism and adaptations to exercise.
• PGC-1α: a master regulator of mitochondrial adaptation.
  PGC-1α helps regulate the expression of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative metabolism. In simple terms, it helps cells adapt their mitochondrial machinery to meet energy demands.
• SIRT1: a metabolic regulator.
  SIRT1 is an enzyme involved in cellular stress responses, energy metabolism and regulation of gene expression. It can interact with AMPK and PGC-1α signaling and is often discussed in the context of metabolic adaptation and cellular resilience.

In a healthspan context, performance is not limited to only athletic performance, it is the capacity to continue doing the things that matter, whether that means exercising, maintaining mobility, staying cognitively engaged or meeting the physical demands of everyday life.

For formulators, the opportunity is to build around the healthspan objective not around an ingredient. AstaReal® Astaxanthin can serve as a multifunctional foundation, with complementary ingredients selected according to the specific population, biological priorities and desired outcomes.

For example, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, healthy adults aged 65–82 participated in a 12-week functional walking program while receiving either an astaxanthin-based formulation (12 mg astaxanthin, 10 mg tocotrienol and 6 mg zinc) or placebo in addition to functional exercise training. Participants in both groups demonstrated improvements in exercise tolerance and walking capacity.  Additionally, the astaxanthin group also showed improvements in muscle strength. The study also reported improvements in fat oxidation, and exercise efficiency, in both males and females.

Another example focuses on a different healthspan outcome: everyday fatigue. This study illustrates how performance can extend well beyond the athletic arena. In a randomized, placebo-controlled study, 39 healthy adults who reported experiencing fatigue were asked to complete both mental and physical challenges designed to mimic the demands of everyday life. The mental challenge involved a continuous calculation task, while the physical challenge consisted of cycling on a stationary bicycle. 

After eight weeks, those taking 12 mg of AstaReal® Astaxanthin daily, along with 20 mg of tocotrienols, reported significantly less mental and physical fatigue following the challenges compared with the control group, which received 20 mg of tocotrienols alone. The astaxanthin group also showed less decline in accuracy and fewer errors during the latter portion of the demanding mental task. In addition, changes were observed in measures related to stress response and mood, including a more favorable friendliness score.

What makes these studies particularly relevant from a healthspan perspective is the functional nature of the outcomes. Healthspan is not solely about extending lifespan or optimizing athletic performance; it is also about maintaining the physical and cognitive capacity needed to meet the demands of daily life. The ability to sustain mental focus, tolerate physical activity and recover from everyday demands with less mental and physical fatigue may contribute to maintaining an active, engaged lifestyle as we age.

For the next generation of healthspan products, the opportunity is not simply to formulate for longer life, but to formulate for more capable, resilient and active years and to take advantage of astaxanthin as a performance multiplier that helps support that goal.