Discovering the fountain of youth has been one of the world’s most sought-after but elusive endeavors. New information suggests that enhanced metabolism may be a valuable key for improved health and longevity.

Scientists at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine and the life sciences company Cardax collaborated on a study aimed at evaluating a naturally occurring chemical with promise for anti-aging therapy.

FOXO3 is a gene that’s been proven to improve longevity, and the astaxanthin compound CDX-085 was instrumental in this venture.

Dr. Bradley Willcox, director of research at the Department of Geriatric Medicine for the Kuakini Honolulu Heart Program, and Richard Allsopp, Ph.D., associate professor and researcher with the Institute of Biogenesis Research, were principal researchers on the study.

The ‘Longevity Gene’ and How It’s Activated

According to Willcox everyone has the FOXO3 gene, which is associated with aging in humans, but 1 in 3 individuals possesses a version of the gene associated with longevity.

However, by activating the FOXO3 gene common in all humans, scientists can make it behave like the “longevity” gene, and astaxanthin is the mystery component that activates it.

Researchers already knew from a large number of animal studies that astaxanthin lowers inflammation, heart and liver damage and risk of stroke. In humans, astaxanthin goes the extra mile by lowering inflammation and triglycerides. This study was the first of its kind, Allsopp said.

In the context of the study, mice were given regular food, food containing low amounts of the astaxanthin compound CDX-085, or food with a high dose of the same.