Astaxanthin - Potent Antioxidant

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid, and like many other carotenoids, astaxanthin is a colorful fat-soluble pigment that is very high in antioxidants, and it has a very low toxicity when taken by mouth. Carotenoids are a very large family [about 700] of fat-soluble pigments. These carotenoids are responsible for the lovely red and yellows we see in fruits and vegetables, and these pigments are produced by fungi, algae, plants, and some bacteria and phytoplankton.

Sources of astaxanthin include micro-algae, yeast, salmon, trout, krill crayfish, shrimp, crustaceans, and the feathers of some birds. In plants and algae these pigments are part of the light 'harvesting' process along with chlorophyll. The red color of salmon meat comes from this pigment, and also the red color in cooked shellfish, while the pink flamingo eats the spirulina, filters then converts the yellow carotenoids beta-carotene and zeaxanthin into the pinkish-red carotenoids astaxanthin and canthaxanthin which goes into their plumage, making that glorious color.

Poor nutrition, stress, air pollution, smoking, ultraviolet light or disease can upset our oxidative balance. The oxygen we breathe, we get from air, and we need oxygen for normal metabolic activity. This is called 'ground-state' or 'triplet' oxygen, and is stable unless it is converted to other forms that present severe challenges to cells. These harmful reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen, superoxide, peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals are formed as a result of photo-oxidation, physiological stress and normal immune system functions. Singlet oxygen is an excited form of ground state oxygen that is formed from normal biological functions; it is highly reactive and long-lived and must transfer this excess energy to another molecule to relax again to the ground state of oxygen. Astaxanthin is especially effective in absorbing the excess energy from singlet oxygen then releasing it as heat then returning both oxygen and itself back to the grounded state. This action is known as 'quenching'. So it goes to show that just breathing and living requires an army of antioxidants to achieve a healthy oxidative balance. The free-radical scavenging ability of astaxanthin makes it useful in preventing chronic diseases, and also in supporting joint and tendon health; eye and brain health; and it also helps to improve recovery after exercise. It can also benefit skin during UV and sun exposure, and generally is of benefit throughout our body to obtain a healthy oxidative balance.