Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Astaxanthin 4 mg Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by GNC Preventive Nutrition

Softgel Capsule Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Astaxanthin 4 mg is a dietary supplement by GNC Preventive Nutrition with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for antioxidant support, skin health and aging, eye health.Based on those ingredients, 671 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Astaxanthin. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Astaxanthin 4 mg by GNC Preventive Nutrition

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This product contains one active ingredient: astaxanthin 4 mg per softgel. Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring pigment in the carotenoid family.

The softgel also includes soybean oil, gelatin, glycerin, safflower oil, mixed tocopherols, and small amounts of carmine color and titanium dioxide as inactive ingredients.

Does it work?

No specific claim
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
General wellness

This Astaxanthin product is marketed for general wellness, not a specific health condition, so there's no single claim to grade — see Astaxanthin's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets general wellness (“Antioxidant support”), not a specific health condition, so there is no single claim to grade against clinical-evidence data.

The evidence we hold doesn't establish that astaxanthin works for any of the conditions listed—age-related cognitive decline, age-related macular degeneration, aging skin, Alzheimer disease, athletic performance, and carpal tunnel syndrome all carry a rating of insufficient reliable evidence. That doesn't mean it's ineffective; it means the research so far hasn't been robust enough to draw firm conclusions.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Astaxanthin

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Astaxanthin is generally well tolerated in studies, though long-term safety data are limited. The most common side effects are mild: abdominal pain, diarrhea, and red discoloration of stool.

At the 4 mg dose in this product, these effects are uncommon; they've been reported more often at higher doses (6–40 mg daily). The safety data don't support use during pregnancy or breastfeeding—there isn't enough information to know either way, so we advise against it.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist for personalized guidance if you're pregnant, planning pregnancy, or nursing.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Astaxanthin

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Astaxanthin.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 672 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before starting this product, check any medications your liver processes—particularly those broken down by CYP3A4 or CYP2B6 enzymes. These include many statins, some blood pressure and heart medications, and others.

Astaxanthin may theoretically lower their levels, though this hasn't been confirmed in humans. Use the interaction checker below with your exact medications.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula marketed for general wellness rather than one specific gradeable purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Astaxanthin is well tolerated at this dose, but the evidence for its effectiveness is not yet established. If you take medications broken down by your liver—especially certain statins, some blood pressure drugs, and many others—check this supplement against your exact prescriptions before starting.

Talk with your pharmacist if you're on any regular medication or if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Mar 23, 2012.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Astaxanthin 4 mg, straight from the product label.

Brand GNC Preventive Nutrition
Barcode (UPC) 048107106560
Net contents 60 Softgel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Mar 23, 2012
DSLD ID 7091
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Astaxanthin 4 mg by GNC Preventive Nutrition, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
UPC/BARCODE
048107106560
IngredientAmount% DV
Astaxanthin4 mg--

Other ingredients: Soybean Oil, Gelatin, Glycerin, Carmine color, Safflower Oil, Mixed Tocopherols, Titanium Dioxide

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Precautions

Discontinue use two weeks prior to surgery.

WARNING: Consult your physician prior to using this product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

General Statements

Conforms to USP <2091> for weight. Meets USP <2040> disintegration.

ACTUAL SIZE

NEW

ANTIOXIDANT

Powerful antioxidant Protects against cell-damaging and cell-aging free radicals*

Formulation

No Sugar, No Starch, No Artificial Colors, No Artificial Flavors, No Preservatives, Sodium Free, No Wheat, No Gluten, No Corn, No Dairy, Yeast Free.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

FDA Statement of Identity

DIETARY SUPPLEMENT

General

CODE 130511 FMG

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

DIRECTIONS: As a dietary supplement, take one softgel capsule daily.

See for yourself

Astaxanthin 4 mg by GNC Preventive Nutrition label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Astaxanthin 4 mg by GNC Preventive Nutrition

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule Amounts shown are per serving.

Astaxanthin

Interacts with
671 drugs
4 mg per serving

Astaxanthin is a reddish carotenoid pigment with strong antioxidant activity in the lab, and it is widely promoted for skin, eye, heart, and exercise...

Astaxanthin monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Soybean Oil, Gelatin, Glycerin, Carmine color, Safflower Oil, Mixed Tocopherols, Titanium Dioxide. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Astaxanthin 4 mg by GNC Preventive Nutrition Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Astaxanthin 4 mg?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
671Drugs
671 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Astaxanthin 4 mg with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Astaxanthin2 drug types · 671 drugs

Cytochrome P450 2B6 (Cyp2B6) Substrates

Theoretically, astaxanthin may decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2B6.
In vitro research shows that astaxanthin induces cytochrome CYP2B6 enzyme activity in human hepatocytes. This effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, astaxanthin may decrease levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4.
In vitro research shows that astaxanthin induces CYP3A4 enzyme activity in human hepatocytes. This effect has not been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Astaxanthin 4 mg, from the product label.

GNC Preventive Nutrition

See all GNC Preventive Nutrition products
Phone Number
1-888-462-2548
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Astaxanthin 4 mg by GNC Preventive Nutrition: Common Questions

Does Astaxanthin 4 mg by GNC Preventive Nutrition interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Astaxanthin 4 mg has a known interaction with 671 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Astaxanthin 4 mg contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
What does astaxanthin do?
Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring pigment that's been studied for age-related cognitive decline, eye health, skin aging, and athletic performance. The evidence we hold on file doesn't yet establish that it works for these purposes, though research is ongoing.
Will this supplement make my stool red?
Red fecal color has been reported in studies, especially at higher doses. It's harmless—just the pigment from astaxanthin passing through your digestive system. At 4 mg daily, it's uncommon but possible.
Is astaxanthin safe to take long-term?
It's generally well tolerated in short-term studies, but long-term safety data are limited. If you plan to use it regularly, it's worth discussing with your pharmacist, especially if you take medications.
Can I take this while pregnant or breastfeeding?
The safety data advise against it—there isn't enough information to know whether it's safe during pregnancy or nursing. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you're pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding.
What are the inactive ingredients in this softgel?
The softgel contains soybean oil, gelatin, glycerin, safflower oil, mixed tocopherols, and small amounts of carmine color and titanium dioxide. If you have allergies or dietary restrictions, check these carefully.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Astaxanthin 4 mg is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Astaxanthin 4 mg label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Astaxanthin 4 mg's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 3 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Astaxanthin 3 references
  1. Kupcinskas L, Lafolie P, Lignell A, et al. Efficacy of the natural antioxidant astaxanthin in the treatment of functional dyspepsia in patients with or without Helicobacter pylori infection: A prospective, randomized, double blind, and placebo-controlled
  2. Kistler, A., Liechti, H., Pichard, L., Wolz, E., Oesterhelt, G., Hayes, A., and Maurel, P. Metabolism and CYP-inducer properties of astaxanthin in man and primary human hepatocytes. Arch.Toxicol. 2002;75(11-12):665-675. PubMed
  3. Choi HD, Youn YK, Shin WG. Positive effects of astaxanthin on lipid profiles and oxidative stress in overweight subjects. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2011;66:363-369. PubMed

See these in context on the Astaxanthin monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring