Astaxanthin

What is it?

Extremely potent antioxidant extracted from red algae (haematococcus pluvialis). Known as “king of carotenoids” as it is up to 100x more powerful than other carotenoids, and described as “internal sun cream” due to its ability to reduce UV damage to skin cells.

What are the benefits?

  • Strengths immunity
  • Reduce wrinkles
  • Improves skin moisture level
  • Prevents damage from sun exposure, promotes even skin tone
  • Enhance eye health
  • Suppress lipid buildup in arteries and protect against complications from diabetes
  • Reduce risk of chronic illness including dementia and heart diseases

    How does it work?

    The magic of antioxidants is their ability to neutralize free radicals from our body. Free radicals is a type of unstable molecule that contains oxygen and that easily reacts with other molecules in a cell. A buildup of free radicals in cells can induce oxidative stress, causing damage to DNA, RNA, and proteins, and may cause cell death. Free radical damage is linked to formation of many degenerative diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, cataracts, and aging.

    Antioxidants neutralize free radicals either by providing the extra electron needed to make the pair, or by breaking down the free radical molecule to render it harmless.

    Astaxanthin has exceptional antioxidant power. The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity), ORAC value, or ORAC score is a method developed by scientists at the National Institute of Health and Aging (NIH) to measure the antioxidant capacity of different foods.

    Based on the ORAC standard, Astaxanthin is 6000 times more powerful than vitamin C, 550 - 1000 times more powerful than vitamin E, 800 times more powerful than the coenzyme Q10, 560 times stronger than EGCG (Green Tea), 75 times more powerful than Alpha Lipoic Acid, 40 times stronger than Beta Carotene, and 17 times more potent than grape seed6.

    To put it in more simple terms, using vitamin C as an example, Astaxanthin is 65 times stronger at preventing cell damage, and 6000 times stronger at eliminating free radicals than vitamin C.

    Summary of Select Clinical Studies:

    • When combined with collagen, improves elasticity and barrier integrity even at low dose 1
    • Reduce wrinkles and oil sebum; improve skin elasticity and moisture content 2
    • Smooth wrinkles, reduce age spots 3
    • Lower oxidative stress 4
    • Boost the body’s use of fatty acids, thereby increasing endurance and prevent muscle and skeletal damage 5

      References

      1. Yoon, Hyun-Sun et al. “Supplementating with dietary astaxanthin combined with collagen hydrolysate improves facial elasticity and decreases matrix metalloproteinase-1 and -12 expression: a comparative study with placebo.” Journal of medicinal food vol. 17,7 (2014): 810-6. doi:10.1089/jmf.2013.3060
      2. Tominaga, Kumi et al. “Cosmetic benefits of astaxanthin on humans subjects.” Acta biochimica Polonica vol. 59,1 (2012): 43-7.
      3. Tominaga, Kumi et al. “Protective effects of astaxanthin on skin deterioration.” Journal of clinical biochemistry and nutrition vol. 61,1 (2017): 33-39. doi:10.3164/jcbn.17-35
      4. Kidd, Parris. “Astaxanthin, cell membrane nutrient with diverse clinical benefits and anti-aging potential.” Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic vol. 16,4 (2011): 355-64.
      5. Ikeuchi, Mayumi et al. “Effects of astaxanthin supplementation on exercise-induced fatigue in mice.” Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin vol. 29,10 (2006): 2106-10. doi:10.1248/bpb.29.2106