Astaxanthin (pronounced As-ta-ZAN- thin) is a challenge to spell, and a mouthful to pronounce, but if you want to maintain your health and minimize the effects of aging, it’s worth getting to know more about this powerful antioxidant.
What is Astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin is a naturally-occurring compound, and a member of carotenoid family of red, orange and yellow pigments that give plants like carrots and sweet potatoes their color. It’s produced by microalgae in the sea, so as astaxanthin works its way up through the food chain, it gives shrimp, lobster, and wild salmon their pink-red color. Research on this antioxidant indicates that it’s significantly more powerful than others, especially when it comes to its anti-aging benefits, especially promoting brain health, memory, and mental reflexes. The MicroActiveⓇ formulation of astaxanthin, can prove to be especially helpful because it provides extra insurance that your body will absorb this important antioxidant.
The Benefits of Boosting Your Antioxidants
Antioxidants are a hot topic in the nutrition world, especially when it comes to conversations about healthy aging. They’re the compounds mainly in plant foods that protect the body’s cells and DNA from injury and damage from exposure to environmental toxins like cigarette smoke, alcohol, air pollution, sun exposure, – or just from natural aging. Whatever the cause, cellular damage triggers health conditions that range from heart disease and cancer, to age-related macular degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia.
A food’s naturally bright color is usually a tip that it’s a rich source of some type of antioxidant. Carrots are full of beta-carotene; grapes (and red wine) are known for resveratrol; and tomatoes are rich in lycopene. These compounds, along with others like vitamins C and E, are widely available in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Because the major source of astaxanthin is seafood it’s not as prevalent in most people’s diets. If you’re not eating several servings of pink-flesh seafood each week, you may wish to consider an effective supplement to get the anti-aging benefits of particular antioxidant.
How Astaxanthin Stacks up Against Other Antioxidants
Like other antioxidants, astaxanthin protects the body’s cells by acting as a scavenger for free radicals, the dangerous compounds that set off a chain reaction of events which damage DNA and destroy healthy cells. It also works to preserve the cell’s essential energy center, also known as the mitochondria. Overall, it appears to be far more effective at protecting cells throughout the body, and especially in the brain, because it has the unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Studies on its antioxidant effects show that it is:
6000 times more powerful than vitamin C
11 times stronger than beta-carotene. Because of its slightly different chemical structure, it’s able to protect both the outer membrane and the inside of a cell
75 times stronger than lipoic acid (ALA)
550 times more powerful than the catechins found in green tea
While astaxanthin hasn’t been quite as well-researched as the other carotenoid antioxidants, in smaller studies, it has been found to have a wide range of anti-aging benefits including:
• Reducing the risk and even reversing signs of early age-related macular degeneration
• Minimizing the effects of eyestrain and eye fatigue from computer use
• Reducing the risk of developing eye damage (retinopathy) from diabetes
• Improving memory, cognition, and response time due to aging
• Reducing the risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease by protecting neurons in the brain
• Reducing inflammation due to sports injuries or rheumatoid arthritis
In addition, in animal studies, astaxanthin has been shown to reduce blood pressure, and in the lab, it’s been shown to prevent the growth of several different types of cancer cells.
Not All Supplements Are Created Equal
Health professionals are in agreement that a diet rich in food sources of antioxidants is best, but that’s not always possible. If you decide to try astaxanthin, it’s important to look for the right supplement. Astaxanthin is a fat-soluble compound, which means that it’s not always well absorbed unless it’s combined with some fat or oil. In addition, some forms of supplements may be unevenly absorbed, or leave your body too quickly to do much good.
MicroActiveⓇ Astaxanthin is specially formulated to provide an improved, sustained, and consistent release over 24-hours. In a research study comparing MicroActive astaxanthin against the most popular brand, the study participants absorbed nearly 4 times more of the MicroActiveⓇ astaxanthin, and all participants showed significantly improved absorption. Better absorption along with a sustained release means MicroActiveⓇ astaxanthin is a supplement that works harder for you, all day long, and you have a supplement absorption insurance policy.
References:
Nishida Y, Yamashita E, Miki W. Quenching activities of common hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants against singlet oxygen using chemiluminescence detection system. Carotenoid Science. 2007 Jan 1;11(6):16-20.
Parisi V, Tedeschi M, Gallinaro G, Varano M, Saviano S, Piermarocchi S, CARMIS Study Group. Carotenoids and antioxidants in age-related maculopathy italian study: multifocal electroretinogram modifications after 1 year. Ophthalmology. 2008 Feb 29;115(2):324-33.
Sun Z, Liu J, Zeng X, Huangfu J, Jiang Y, Wang M, Chen F. Protective actions of microalgae against endogenous and exogenous advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) in human retinal pigment epithelial cells. Food & function. 2011;2(5):251-8.
Katagiri M, Satoh A, Tsuji S, Shirasawa T. Effects of astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus pluvialis extract on cognitive function: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of clinical biochemistry and nutrition. 2012;51(2):102-7.
Grimmig B, Morganti J, Nash K, Bickford PC. Immunomodulators as therapeutic agents in mitigating the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Brain sciences. 2016 Sep 23;6(4):41.
Yuan JP, Peng J, Yin K, Wang JH. Potential health‐promoting effects of astaxanthin: A high‐value carotenoid mostly from microalgae. Molecular nutrition & food research. 2011 Jan 1;55(1):150-65.