Nature's powerful carotenoid

Astaxanthin belongs to a group of compounds called carotenoids. In nature, there are more than 700 different carotenoids, which are responsible for the dazzling array of colours to plants and the animal kingdom.

Astaxanthin is present as a vibrant red pigment in birds, fish, crustaceans, and shellfish. Even certain plants and bacteria produce it. The antioxidative properties of astaxanthin are very powerful, as shown in trials comparing it with other fat-soluble antioxidants such as Vitamin E and ß-carotene. BioReal (Sweden) AB's research focus on the biological effects of astaxanthin as a potent antioxidant.

Part of the explanation for the biological effect of astaxanthin is its ability to protect cell membranes in all organs of the body. Unlike ß-carotene and vitamin C which respectively only reside inside or outside the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane, the astaxanthin molecule has the unique ability to reside both in and outside the bilipid membrane, therefore giving the cell better overall protection. Furthermore, it can also function as a bridge by transporting trapped free radicals to the aqueous (polar) regions of the cell thus making them available to water soluble antioxidants.

As a dietary supplement, astaxanthin is unique. Since the launch of the product Astaxin® in Sweden in 1995, astaxanthin has become known to consumers as a substance with unique health-beneficial effects. Many use this powerful freshwater alga for its vitalizing effect, others to increase muscle endurance and strengthen the immune system. A large proportion of users claim that they have had better gastric health since they started to take Astaxin®.

Documentation on the many health-promoting effects of astaxanthin is growing continually and an increasing number of research groups are fascinated by its properties.