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Astaxanthin is a red pigment that occurs naturally in a wide
variety of living organisms. Astaxanthin is found in many human
foods, and you are quite likely to be consuming it in your every day
diet. Most crustaceans, including crawfish, shrip, crabs and
lobster, are tinted red by accumulated astaxanthin. The coloration
of fish is often due to astaxanthin; the pink flesh of a healthy
wild salmon is a good example. Not only does astaxanthin provide for
pigmentation in many animals but it also has been found to be
essential for their proper growth and survival.
Astaxanthin
is one of a group of natural pigments known as carotenoids. In
nature, carotenoids are produced principally by plants and their
microscopic relatives, the microalgae. Animals, including humans,
are not able synthesize carotenoids thus ultimately they must obtain
these pigments from the plants and algae. Commercial production of
astaxanthin from the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis is a growing
business worldwide, primarily due to the rapid growth of this
microorganism and its high astaxanthin content. In addition to
production from natural sources, astaxanthin may be chemically
synthesized.
Possible Human Benefits of
Astaxanathin
- Astaxanthin increases strength and endurance.
- Astaxanthin alleviates symptoms in patients with H. pylori
(pre-ulcer indigestion).
- Astaxanthin protects cells and mitochondrial membranes from
oxidative damage, thus protecting the cell from oxidative damage.
- Astaxanthin boosts immune system by increasing the number of
antibody-producing cells.**
- Astaxanthin prevents the initiation of cancer cells in the
tongue, oral cavity, large bowel, bladder, uterus, and breast.
- Astaxanthin inhibits lipid peroxidation that causes plaque
formation, thus reducing risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Astaxanthin alleviates stress and may assist in
neurodegenerative conditions such as AMD, Alzheimer's,
Parkinson's, ALS.
- Astaxanthin protects the eyes and skin from UV A and B damage
by quenching singlet and triplet oxygen.
- Astaxanthin reduces the number of new and abnormal cells in
the liver.
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