**8. Clinical Trial Using Astaxanthin**

A double-blind randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial (Xanthin study) is currently being conducted to assess the effects of astaxanthin 8mg orally day on oxidative stress, inflammation and vascular function in patients that have received a kidney transplant [87]. Patients in the study undertake measurements of surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease including aortic pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, brachial forearm reactivity and carotid artery intima-media thickness. Depending on the results from this pilot study a large randomised controlled trial assessing major cardiovascular outcomes such as myocardial infarction and death may be warranted. 
