Did You Know?
Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring red carotenoid pigment classified as a xanthophyll, found in microalgae and seafood such as salmon, trout, and shrimp. The highest known level of astaxanthin in nature is in the chlorophyte alga Haematococcus pluvialis, which has become a primary source of the astaxanthin used by many food and nutraceutical industries. Astaxanthin possess an unique molecular structure that is responsible for its unusual powerful antioxidant activities by quenching singlet oxygen and scavenging free radicals. Unlike other anti-oxidants, its anti-oxidant status is preserved. Due to its anti-oxidant nature, its proven that it can potentially improve various physiogical and health conditions like CVD, chronic inflammatory, liver disorder, dry/ damaged skin and retinal damage. Also it promotes mitochondial production in a cell, thus increases cell's energy resources overall.
Whats unique?
Astaxanthin is able to cross the blood-retina barrier and gets deposited in the ciliary body of eye and improves vision and eye health.
Tales of the Past
The ketocarotenoid astaxanthin was first described in aquatic crustaceans as an oxidized form of b-carotene, which gives the carapace of these animals its pinkish color (Czeczuga and Osorio 1989). It was later found that this pigment is very common in certain aquatic and land animals. Later in 1970s, it was discovered that Astaxanthin is also found in some algae such as Clamydomonas nivalis and Haematococcus pluvialis, Euglena rubida and Acetabularia mediterranea. Astaxanthin production was induced and released outside the cell by the application of the following environmental conditions: high light intensity (170//mol m~2 s~'), nitrogen deficency, phosphate starvation and salt stress (NaCl 0.8%). The natural astaxanthin was fed to salmon which improved the vitality and survival rate. Hence after that observation, various clinical trials were carried out and natural astaxanthin was made available as dietary supplement to people.
Application in Different Health Categories
Eye Health, Heart Health, Liver Health, Skin Health, Chronic Inflammation, Brain Health, Gastrointertinal Health, Immune health, etc.
Regulatory Status
FDA approved, GRAS approved, FSSAI approved
Different Dosage Formats
Softgel capsules, Soflets, Tablets, Sachets, Jellies, Gummies.
References
1.Ranga Rao Ambati, Phang Siew Moi, Sarada Ravi, and Ravishankar Gokare Aswathanarayana. Astaxanthin: Sources, Extraction, Stability, Biological Activities and Its Commercial Applications—A Review. Mar Drugs. 2014 Jan; 12(1): 128–152.
2. Administration of natural astaxanthin increases serum HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin in subjects with mild hyperlipidemia by Hiroshi Yoshidaa, Hidekatsu Yanai et al.
3. Astaxanthin decreased oxidative stress and inflammation and enhanced immune response in humans by Jean Soon Park, Jong Hee Chyun et al.