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Dietary supplement

MitoDefense AstaKrill Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Carotec

Softgel Capsule Category: Other Combinations
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

MitoDefense AstaKrill is a dietary supplement by Carotec with 2 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for antioxidant support, skin health and aging, eye health.Based on those ingredients, 838 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Natural Astaxanthin, Superba Boost Krill. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of MitoDefense AstaKrill by Carotec

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 2 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

MitoDefense AstaKrill contains two active ingredients: natural astaxanthin and Superba Boost krill oil. Astaxanthin is a red pigment from marine sources with antioxidant properties.

Krill oil is derived from small shrimp-like crustaceans and supplies omega-3 fatty acids and phospholipids. The remaining ingredients — bovine gelatin, glycerin, sorbitol, and purified water — are the inactive components that form and protect the softgel capsule.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
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

This product doesn't appear to be marketed for a specific use, so we graded its ingredients' overall clinical evidence instead.

Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports its ingredients for:

  • Dry eye via Krill Oil Possibly Effective
Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.
  • Since the label doesn't commit to one use, we graded the ingredients' overall clinical evidence instead.
  • On file: Dry eye — rated "Possibly Effective" (Krill Oil) (Natural Medicines).

For krill oil, the data supports it as possibly effective for dry eye symptoms. For everything else on this product — astaxanthin for age-related cognitive decline, macular degeneration, aging skin, Alzheimer disease, athletic performance, and carpal tunnel syndrome, plus krill oil for aging skin, Alzheimer disease, cancer, high cholesterol, and cognitive function — the evidence is insufficient to rate whether it works.

That doesn't mean it doesn't; it means the data we hold aren't robust enough to say.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Astaxanthin Krill Oil

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 2 of the 2 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 2 of 2.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 2 of 2.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Both ingredients are generally well tolerated in the doses studied, though long-term safety data for astaxanthin are limited. The most common side effects from astaxanthin are abdominal pain, diarrhea, and red-colored stools; higher doses have caused severe stomach pain in a small number of trial participants.

Krill oil commonly causes bloating, decreased appetite, diarrhea, fishy burps, flatulence, heartburn, nausea, and stomach discomfort — though these tend to be milder or less frequent than with fish oil. Rarely, headache, tiredness, and dizziness have been reported.

If you have a shellfish allergy, avoid krill oil; if you have a bleeding disorder, use krill oil only with caution. Regarding pregnancy and breastfeeding: the safety data for astaxanthin are insufficient, so it's best to avoid it during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

For krill oil, there isn't enough reliable safety data either — talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using it in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Astaxanthin Krill Oil

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?
  • 2 of the 2 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Astaxanthin, Krill Oil.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 839 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.

Double-check blood thinners (anticoagulants) and antiplatelet drugs like warfarin or aspirin — krill oil may raise bleeding risk. Also screen diabetes medications, since krill oil may theoretically increase the risk of low blood sugar.

Finally, ask your pharmacist about any drug you take that's processed through your liver's CYP3A4 or CYP2B6 pathways, as astaxanthin may theoretically reduce their levels — though this hasn't been confirmed in humans.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence behind its ingredients' uses. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

MitoDefense AstaKrill may be worth considering if you're interested in dry eye support or are exploring antioxidant supplementation, but you should be especially careful if you take blood thinners, diabetes medications, or have a shellfish allergy. Before you start, check your exact medications against the interactions on this page, and talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether this product makes sense for your situation.

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

Assessment coverage: 2 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jan 23, 2023.

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 MitoDefense AstaKrill, straight from the product label.

Brand Carotec
Net contents 60 Soft Gel(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jan 23, 2023
DSLD ID 282136
Product type Other Combinations
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
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 MitoDefense AstaKrill by Carotec, 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:
2 Softgel(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 Softgel(s)
Servings per container
30
IngredientAmount% DV
Calories10 Calorie(s)--
Total Fat1 Gram(s)1%
Natural Astaxanthin8 mg--
Superba Boost Krill1000 mg--

Other ingredients: Bovine Gelatin, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Water, Purified

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.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: As a dietary supplement, take two (2) soft gels per day with meals.

Precautions

Warning: If allergic to shellfish or on anticoagulant medication, consult physician before use.

Warning: If allergic to shellfish or on anticoagulant medication, consult physician before use.

Keep out of reach of children.

If you are pregnant, nursing or taking medication, consult your doctor before use.

Discontinue use and consult your doctor if adverse reactions occur.

Contains: Shellfish (krill).

Brand IP Statement(s)

AstaReal is a registered trademark of Fuji Chemical Industries Co., Ltd. MitoDefense is a registered trademark of Carotec Inc. Superba is a trademark of Aker Biomarine.

Formula

AstaReal Superba Boost

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.

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

See for yourself

MitoDefense AstaKrill by Carotec label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in MitoDefense AstaKrill by Carotec

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size2 Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule Servings per container30 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Natural Astaxanthin

Interacts with
671 drugs
8 mg per serving Form: Haematococcus pluvialis Algae extract

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

Natural Astaxanthin monograph & interactions

Superba Boost Krill

Interacts with
208 drugs
1000 mg per serving Form: Krill Oil

Krill oil is a source of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) bound to phospholipids, which may help absorption. It is most studied for lowering triglyce...

Superba Boost Krill monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Bovine Gelatin, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Water, Purified. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

MitoDefense AstaKrill by Carotec Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against MitoDefense AstaKrill?

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
838Drugs
838 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

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

Natural 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

Superba Boost Krill2 drug types · 208 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, krill oil may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Taking high doses of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil can modestly decrease platelet aggregation. Since krill oil also contains these fatty acids, taking high doses of krill oil might also inhibit platelet aggregation. Theoretically, taking high doses of krill oil with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs might increase the risk of bleeding. However, the omega-3 content of krill oil is much lower than that of fish oil.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, taking krill oil with antidiabetes drugs might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Some research in animals and humans shows that krill oil might lower blood glucose levels. However, a small study shows that taking krill oil does not reduce blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, most of whom were taking antidiabetes drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for MitoDefense AstaKrill, from the product label.

Carotec

See all Carotec products
Name
Carotec, Inc.
Street Address
P.O. Box 9919
City
Naples
State
FL
ZipCode
34101
Phone Number
1-800-522-4279
Web Address
www.carotec.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

MitoDefense AstaKrill by Carotec: Common Questions

Does MitoDefense AstaKrill by Carotec interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, MitoDefense AstaKrill has a known interaction with 838 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
MitoDefense AstaKrill contains 2 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is 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.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
The safety data for astaxanthin aren't robust enough to recommend it during pregnancy or breastfeeding. For krill oil, there also isn't enough reliable safety data. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your specific situation before using this product.
What are the most common side effects?
From astaxanthin, you might experience abdominal pain, diarrhea, or red-colored stools. From krill oil, the most common effects are bloating, decreased appetite, diarrhea, fishy burps, flatulence, heartburn, nausea, and stomach discomfort — though these are usually milder than with fish oil. Both ingredients are generally well tolerated overall.
Does this product actually work?
Krill oil is possibly effective for dry eye. For the other uses mentioned — cognitive decline, macular degeneration, aging skin, Alzheimer disease, athletic performance, and carpal tunnel syndrome — the evidence in our data is insufficient to say whether it works.
I'm allergic to shellfish. Can I take this?
No — krill oil is derived from crustaceans, so you should avoid this product if you have a shellfish allergy.
What's in the capsule besides the active ingredients?
The softgel is made of bovine gelatin, glycerin, sorbitol, and purified water — these are all inactive ingredients that hold the product together and help deliver it.

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

Not sure if MitoDefense AstaKrill 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.

MitoDefense AstaKrill label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

MitoDefense AstaKrill'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 16 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 →

Krill Oil 13 references
  1. Leaf A. On the reanalysis of the GISSI-Prevenzione. Circulation 2002;105:1874-5. PubMed
  2. Connor WE. n-3 Fatty acids from fish and fish oil: panacea or nostrum? Am J Clin Nutr 2001;74;415-6. PubMed
  3. Calder PC. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, inflammation and immunity: pouring oil on troubled waters or another fishy tale? Nutr Res 2001;21:309-41. DOI
  4. Bunea R, El Farrah K, Deutsch L. Evaluation of the effects of Neptune Krill Oil on the clinical course of hyperlipidemia. Altern Med Rev 2004;9:420-8.
  5. Sampalis F, Bunea R, Pelland MF, et al. Evaluation of the effects of Neptune Krill Oil on the management of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea. Altern Med Rev 2003;8:171-9.
  6. Harris WS, Miller M, Tighe AP, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids and coronary heart disease risk: clinical and mechanistic perspectives. Atherosclerosis 2008;197:12-24. PubMed
  7. Tandy S, Chung RW, Wat E, et al. Dietary krill oil supplementation reduces hepatic steatosis, glycemia, and hypercholesterolemia in high-fat-fed mice. J Agric Food Chem 10-14-2009;57:9339-45. PubMed
  8. Maki, K. C., Reeves, M. S., Farmer, M., Griinari, M., Berge, K., Vik, H., Hubacher, R., and Rains, T. M. Krill oil supplementation increases plasma concentrations of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in overweight and obese men and women. Nutr.R PubMed
  9. Albert BB, Derraik JG, Brennan CM, et al. Supplementation with a blend of krill and salmon oil is associated with increased metabolic risk in overweight men. Am J Clin Nutr 2015;102(1):49-57.
  10. Berge K, Musa-Veloso K, Harwood M, Hoem N, Burri L. Krill oil supplementation lowers serum triglycerides without increasing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in adults with borderline high or high triglyceride levels. Nutr Res 2014;34(2):126-33. PubMed
  11. Lobraico JM, DiLello LC, Butler AD, Cordisco ME, Petrini JR, Ahmadi R. Effects of krill oil on endothelial function and other cardiovascular risk factors in participants with type 2 diabetes, a randomized controlled trial. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2015 PubMed
  12. van der Wurff ISM, von Schacky C, Bergeland T, Zeegers MP, Kirschner PA, de Groot RHM. Krill oil supplementation's effect on school grades in typically developing adolescents. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2023;191:102553. PubMed
  13. van der Wurff ISM, von Schacky C, Bergeland T, et al. Effect of 1 year krill oil supplementation on cognitive achievement of Dutch adolescents: A double-blind randomized controlled trial. Nutrients. 2019;11(6):1230. PubMed

See these in context on the Krill Oil 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

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