Astaxanthin is a red pigment occurring naturally in a wide variety of living organisms. Although the word astaxanthin may not be commonly encountered in everyday speech, the pigment itself is found in many human foods, and you are quite likely to be consuming it in your diet already.
Most crustaceans, including shrimp, crawfish, crabs and lobster, are tinted red by accumulated astaxanthin. The coloration of fish is often due to astaxanthin; pink flesh of a healthy wild salmon is a conspicuous example. In commercial fish and crustacean farms, astaxanthin is commonly added to feeds in order to make up for the lack of a natural dietary source of the pigment. Not only does astaxanthin provide for pigmentation in these farmed animals, 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 cannot synthesize carotenoids, thus ultimately they must obtain these pigments from the plants and algae that support their food chains.
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.
As is the case with other carotenoids, astaxanthin is a potent quencher of singlet oxygen. One comprehensive study found astaxanthin to be twice as effective as beta-carotene (and about 100 times more effective than vitamin E) in quenching single oxygen in chemical solution. Astaxanthin is a powerful, bioactive anti-oxidant and has demonstrated efficacy in animal or human models of: Macular Degeneration : the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. Alzhiemer's and Parkinson's Disease: major neurodegenerative diseases. Cholesterol: ameliorates the effect of LDL, the "bad" cholesterol. Stroke: repairs damage caused by lack of oxygen. Cancer: protects against several major types of cancer.
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Directions: |
As a dietary supplement for adults take one (1) softgel daily, preferably at mealtime, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner. |
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Ingredients: |
1 Softgel Contains:
Astaxanthin Complex Blend 4 mg
Astaxanthin (from H.pluvialis) 3.4 mg
Lutein
Beta Carotene
Canthaxanthin
Other Carotenoids
Other Ingredients: Safflower Oil, Gelatin, Glycerin, Yellow Beeswax, Lecithin, Caramel. |
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Warnings: |
If you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medication or have a medical condition, please consult your healthcare practitioner before taking any dietary supplement. Not intended for use by children. |