Table 3 Cytokine response following daily supplementation with 0, 2 or 8 mg astaxanthin after 0, 4 and 8 wk.

TNF-α (pg/mL); Overall SE = 0.43

   0 mg

1.14

1.63

1.43

   2 mg

0.80

1.13

1.44

   8 mg

1.51

2.15

2.60

IFN-γ (pg/mL); Overall SE = 0.34

   0 mg

5.85

4.47

4.68^b

   2 mg

4.87

4.26

5.00^b

   8 mg

4.67

6.23

9.55^a

IL-6 (pg/mL); Overall SE = 2.9

   0 mg

10.5

12.7

13.6^b

   2 mg

10.0

11.5

8.7^b

   8 mg

11.5

12.4

25.2^a

IL-2 (pg/mL); Overall SE = 0.10

   0 mg

8.61

8.04

7.74

   2 mg

5.09

4.67

4.46

   8 mg

4.91

4.01

3.90