AstaReal, Inc. announced a new study published in Advances in Therapy that demonstrates that astaxanthin, an antioxidant sourced from the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, recognized for its benefits in enhancing visual performance in adults, also improved both objective and subjective measures of visual performance in children.

According to a company press release, the study involved 64 children aged 10-14 years who reported a history of 4+ hours of daily digital device use. They received either 4 mg/day of AstaReal Astaxanthin or a placebo over 3 months. Researchers assessed the effects of supplementation using subjective questionnaires and objective visual performance metrics. The children receiving astaxanthin reported significant improvements in eye fatigue and discomfort. The Astaxanthin group also showed improved tear production, which is commonly affected by prolonged screen usage.

This study underscores AstaReal Astaxanthin as an effective and safe nutritional solution for managing Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) in children. In today's digital age, where prolonged screen time for both education and recreation has become the norm, this offers a timely and valuable approach to supporting eye health, the company said in the press release. 

"Our goal was to clinically validate astaxanthin as an effective nutritional intervention for visual performance in school-aged children," stated Karen Hecht, PhD lead author and VP of Science for AstaReal, in the press release. While a previous study by Canas et al. explored a carotenoid formulation containing astaxanthin in children, astaxanthin's impact on both subjective and objective measures of visual performance had not been evaluated until now, the company said.