What Is Astaxanthin?

Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring carotenoid with potent antioxidant properties. It is named for its ability to impart a red or pink hue to certain organisms (such as shrimp, salmon, lobster, and other aquatic creatures, whose color primarily derives from it)

Specification Sheet Reference

Property	Details
Appearance	Dark reddish-orange fine powder
E Number	E161j

Source and Extraction

Natural Sources

The primary natural source is Haematococcus Pluvialis, a freshwater green alga that synthesizes astaxanthin in large quantities to protect itself under environmental stressors such as strong light and drought. Additionally, aquatic animals such as shrimp, crabs, and salmon accumulate astaxanthin by consuming algae or planktonic organisms that contain it.

Manual Extraction

Commercial astaxanthin is mostly extracted from marine rain red ball algae (natural astaxanthin) or produced through chemical synthesis (synthetic astaxanthin). However, natural astaxanthin is more favored in the fields of health care products and cosmetics due to its higher biological activity.

Core Features

Superior antioxidant properties:Its antioxidant capacity far exceeds that of vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. It can eliminate free radicals and reduce the damage caused by oxidative stress to cells, thus earning the title of "the king of antioxidants".
Liposolubility:Soluble in fat, it can only be effectively absorbed by the human body when consumed together with oil or fat. Therefore, it is often formulated into soft capsules (mixed with vegetable oil) in health products.
Stability:It is sensitive to light and heat, so care should be taken to protect it from light and store it at low temperatures during processing and storage to maintain its activity.

Main efficacy and application

Healthcare product field

Alleviate sports fatigue and enhance endurance (reduce muscle oxidative damage).
Protect eye health (reduce eye fatigue, improve vision, especially for people who use their eyes for long periods).
Support cardiovascular health (inhibit lipid oxidation, reduce the risk of arteriosclerosis).
Enhance immunity (regulate the activity of immune cells).

Cosmetics field

Due to its strong antioxidant properties, it is commonly used in anti-aging skincare products (to reduce wrinkles and improve skin elasticity) and sunscreen products (to assist in resisting UV damage).

Feed industry

As a feed additive, it is used in aquaculture (such as salmon and ornamental fish) and poultry farming (such as egg yolk coloring) to enhance product color and nutritional value.

Safety and intake

Natural astaxanthin has high safety, and the recommended daily intake is 2-12 mg per day (varying according to different population groups). Overconsumption may cause mild yellowing of the skin (harmless, which can be restored after reducing intake).
Pregnant women, lactating women, and patients with chronic diseases are advised to take the medication under the guidance of a doctor.

Summarize

Astaxanthin, a natural and highly effective antioxidant, is widely used in health care, beauty and skincare, and animal breeding due to its unique physiological activity, particularly in meeting the needs related to "antioxidation" and "anti-aging".

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