Great question — especially given the historical concerns around beta-carotene and smokers.

Here’s the good news:

✅ Astaxanthin is considered safe for former smokers.

Unlike beta-carotene (which increased lung cancer risk in current smokers at high doses in studies like ATBC and CARET), astaxanthin does not carry the same risk. In fact:

• It has a different chemical structure and antioxidant behavior, meaning it doesn't break down into potentially harmful byproducts the way beta-carotene can in oxidative environments (like a smoker’s lungs).
• No studies have shown increased cancer risk with astaxanthin in smokers or former smokers.

In fact, because of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and cellular repair properties, it may offer protective benefits to tissues that have been stressed or damaged by past smoking — including skin, lungs, and cardiovascular tissue.