ASTAXANTHIN

“King of Antioxidants”

  • a potent antioxidant
  • skin health benefits
  • sun protection from within
  • improves skin elasticity

This reddish pigment belongs to a group of carotenoids, found naturally in certain plants and animals. Natural astaxanthin is derived from a wholly natural source. The microalgae Haematococcus Pluvialis produce the red pigment astaxanthin against environmental stress factors like free radicals generated by UV radiation. It has multiple health benefits and is especially known for its powerful antioxidant capacity.

Source: http://www.astareal.se

Astaxanthin has multiple health benefits and is especially known for its powerful antioxidant capacity. Natural astaxanthin has a unique molecular structure that makes it a super antioxidant with the added benefit that it never becomes a pro-oxidant, meaning it never causes the oxidation in the body.

Source: http://www.astareal.se

Astaxanthin has no-prooxidant activity even when subjected to enormous amount of stress from environmental factors and free radicals.

Skin health benefits

The skin has a complex structure consisting of different layers with each having unique and important functions. Studies have shown that oral supplementation with natural astaxanthin provides protection to all layers of the skin, thus promoting healthy skin from the inside out.

A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study showed that crow’s feet wrinkles, elasticity and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were improved after 6 weeks of daily supplementation with 6mg of AstaReal® natural astaxanthin. The study suggests that astaxanthin may improve skin condition.1

Another double- blind study examined the long-term effects of the oral ingestion of liquid preparations containing astaxanthin, Vitamin E and Vitamin C  for 20 weeks. The results showed that the supplementation had significant anti-aging and functional improvements of the skin. 2

Astaxanthin also offers a degree of sunscreen protection since it penetrates the cells and reduces the UV radiation damage from the sun. A study tested the photoprotective effect of astaxanthin against UVA-induced oxidative stress. The results indicate astaxanthin‘s significant preventive effect towards photo-oxidative changes in cell culture. 3

 

Source: http://www.astareal.se

Oral supplementation with natural astaxanthin provides protection to all layers of the skin, thus promoting healthy skin from the inside out.

Immune support

Our immune system defends our body against invaders and functions better when protected. Natural astaxanthin has an ability to strengthen the immune system, therefore improving its ability to defend the body whilst also helping to suppress the overactive immune responses that create unwanted inflammation.

In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study participants were administered astaxanthin for 8 weeks with the objective to study immune response, oxidative status and inflammation. The study shows that dietary astaxanthin enhanced immune response and decreased oxidative stress and inflammation in young healthy women.4

References:

  1. Tominaga K et al., Cosmetic benefits of astaxanthin on human subjects. Acta Biochim Pol. 2012;59(1):43-7.
  2. Guerin, M., Huntley, M. E., & Olaizola, M. (2003). Haematococcus astaxanthin: applications for human health and nutrition. TRENDS in Biotechnology, 21(5), 210-216.
  3. Camera E et al. Astaxanthin, canthaxanthin and b-carotene differently affect UVA-induced oxidative damage and expression of oxidative stress-responsive enzymes. Experimental Dermatology, 18, 222–231.
  4. Tominaga, K.T et.al., Protective effects of astaxanthin on skin deterioration. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, 2017;61(1):33-39.

Other sources:

Suganuma K et al., Anti-aging and functional improvement effects for the skin by functional foods intake: clinical effects on the skin by oral ingestion of preparations containing Astaxanthin and Vitamins C and E. Jichi Medical University Journal. 2012; 35:25-33.

Tominaga K et al., Cosmetic effects of astaxanthin for all layers of skin. Food Style 21. 2009;13(10):25-9.

Tominaga, K.T et.al., Protective effects of astaxanthin on skin deterioration. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, 2017;61(1):33-39.

Park, Jean & Chyun, Jong & Kim, Yoo & Line, Larry & Chew, Boon. (2010). Astaxanthin decreased oxidative stress and inflammation and enhanced immune response in humans. Nutrition & metabolism. 7. 18. 10.1186/1743-7075-7-18.

Camera E et al. Astaxanthin, canthaxanthin and b-carotene differently affect UVA-induced oxidative damage and expression of oxidative stress-responsive enzymes. Experimental Dermatology, 18, 222–231.

Beutner, S., Bloedorn, B., Frixel, S., Hernández Blanco, I., Hoffmann, T., Martin, H.-D., Mayer, B., Noack, P., Ruck, C., Schmidt, M., Schülke, I., Sell, S., Ernst, H., Haremza, S., Seybold, G., Sies, H., Stahl, W. and Walsh, R. (2001), Quantitative assessment of antioxidant properties of natural colorants and phytochemicals: carotenoids, flavonoids, phenols and indigoids. The role of β-carotene in antioxidant functions. J. Sci. Food Agric., 81: 559-568. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.849.