Harness the power of astaxanthin, a key ingredient in dietary supplements, with our premium soft capsules. Engineered for optimal efficacy, they are a game changer for your product development.
Our premium soft astaxanthin capsules, derived from Haematococcus faecalis, are a powerhouse of health benefits. Designed for optimal functionality, they meet a wide range of health needs.
The recommended daily dose is two capsules, making it easy and convenient for users to incorporate into their daily routine. Packaged in bulk, each plastic pack contains 15,000 capsules and is ideal for wide distribution and storage. The packaging is designed for stability and longevity, ensuring that the capsules maintain their effectiveness over time.
Astaxanthin is a natural red pigment with powerful antioxidant properties found in salmon, salmon roe and shrimp. It is an effective ingredient for improving eye strain, preventing arteriosclerosis and reducing fatigue. It can penetrate into hard-to-reach areas such as the back of the eye and the brain, where nutrients are difficult to reach.
Astaxanthin, also known as the 'carotenoid of the sea', is a natural red pigment that is fat soluble. Carotenoids are naturally occurring pigments that cannot be synthesised by the human body. They are very numerous, with more than 600 known, including red, yellow and orange. Among the many carotenoids, astaxanthin is known for its extremely high 'antioxidant power'. Antioxidant power" refers to the ability to eliminate "reactive oxygen species" generated by ultraviolet rays and stress, which cause cancer, cardiovascular disease and lifestyle-related diseases. Astaxanthin is said to have an antioxidant power, or ability to scavenge these active oxygen species, that is approximately 1,000 times greater than that of vitamin E.
As astaxanthin is a fat-soluble compound, there is concern that it may accumulate in the body like vitamin A and vitamin D. However, it is known that the blood concentration reaches its maximum level around 8 hours after ingestion and disappears around 72 hours later. Even when taken continuously, there is no significant difference in blood concentration before and after intake, and it has been confirmed that there is no accumulation in the body.
Astaxanthin is a nutrient that is widely distributed in nature and is found in salmon, salmon roe, crab, shrimp and sea bream.
Astaxanthin in crab and shrimp has a dull colour when alive because it is bound to protein, but heating causes the protein and astaxanthin to separate, revealing the original bright red colour.
The colour of red fish such as tuna is often thought to be astaxanthin, but as it does not turn red when heated, it is not astaxanthin.
Salmon, crabs and shrimps store astaxanthin in their bodies by feeding on krill and other plankton that contain astaxanthin and turn them red, but microalgae called haematococcus algae can produce astaxanthin in their own bodies.
Haematococcus algae are unicellular phytoplankton of the green algae network, belonging to the genus Haematococcus of the order Chlamydomonas, family Chlamydomonadaceae.
It has attracted much attention in recent years for its ability to biosynthesise and accumulate astaxanthin in the highest concentrations.
Haematococcus algae grow in fresh water and use chloroplasts for photosynthesis. They are egg-shaped, up to 35㎛ in size, and form green colonies in nutrient-rich media, swimming with two flagella. When the environment changes to conditions unsuitable for individual life, such as temperature, light, nutrients and drought, they form spores in the cell body and enter a dormant state as a means of survival. This is called cystification.
At the same time as producing spores, they lose their flagella and grow into large spherical bodies that synthesise and accumulate astaxanthin.
This is said to protect them against desiccation and light stress.
As a result of the mass cultivation of these Haematococcus algae, astaxanthin, which protects against stress and ultraviolet radiation, is now widely used in a variety of areas, including food supplements and cosmetics.
Salmon are originally white fish, but they are able to withstand their long migrations by storing astaxanthin in their bodies, which they ingest from plankton, and are able to travel up torrential rivers. The salmon's migration is a battle against stress and a harsh environment, and astaxanthin serves to protect them from the high levels of reactive oxygen species produced in the body. Astaxanthin stored in the body removes reactive oxygen species, thereby reducing fatigue. This astaxanthin is also passed on to the eggs, the salmon roe. Astaxanthin is also passed on to the salmon eggs, which are protected from ultraviolet rays and other harmful substances until they hatch.
Salmon ingest astaxanthin through food in the food chain and accumulate it in their muscles, but farmed salmon are deliberately fed feed containing astaxanthin. Salmon traders grade the redness of the salmon, with salmon of moderate redness commanding a higher price. By controlling the amount of astaxanthin added, salmon can be produced according to consumer preferences.
The bright red colour of lingcod and western carp is the colour of astaxanthin, but these carp species do not consume astaxanthin.
In fact, they develop this bright red colour because they ingest a carotenoid pigment called zeaxanthin, which is metabolically converted to astaxanthin in the body.
Astaxanthin can penetrate deep into the eye, where it is difficult for nutrients to reach, so it can be expected to improve 'eye strain'. Asthenopia is a type of eye fatigue in which the ciliary muscle in the eye is strained by prolonged use of computers, smartphones, reading, etc., and this becomes a chronic condition.
Astaxanthin is effective against eyestrain, as 6 mg of astaxanthin was taken for four weeks by healthy people complaining of eyestrain and it was confirmed that the regulatory function and subjective symptoms improved.
Astaxanthin is also thought to be effective against uveitis, which is responsible for a high proportion of blindness. Uveitis is an inflammatory disease of the iris, ciliary body and choroid of the eye.
It is also thought to be effective in preventing age-related macular degeneration, in which the macula, an important part of the retina where visual function is most concentrated, degenerates with age, causing distortion and narrowing of the visual field, and glaucoma, in which high intraocular pressure causes narrowing of the visual field and partial blindness.
The clinical effects of astaxanthin supplementation on human age-related macular degeneration are expected to be demonstrated in future research.
Astaxanthin is thought to have an effect on whitening and beautifying the skin and even restoring vision due to its powerful antioxidant action, which suppresses reactive oxygen species generated in excess of the body's needs. Astaxanthin also combines various powers such as boosting immunity, anti-aging, preventing arteriosclerosis and improving blood flow.
Astaxanthin is said to be excellent at inhibiting the oxidation of lipids and is effective in preventing arteriosclerosis, in which bad (LDL) cholesterol oxidised by active oxygen enters the bloodstream and is deposited on blood vessel walls, causing the blood vessels to harden.
It is also known to prevent fat deposition in the liver and has been shown to inhibit the inflammation and fibrosis that leads to cirrhosis of the liver, raising expectations for the prevention of hepatitis and cirrhosis.
In addition, astaxanthin has also been shown to improve lipid utilisation during exercise by promoting the function of proteins necessary for the breakdown of lipids in muscle cells. This suggests that it may also be effective in exercise therapy to prevent and improve metabolic syndrome.
Astaxanthin has been shown to reduce exercise-induced fatigue, particularly peripheral fatigue in muscle tissue.
The energy sources for muscle movement are carbohydrate and lipid, but during moderate to vigorous exercise the proportion of carbohydrate (muscle glycogen) used increases. This glycogen reserve determines fatigue delay and endurance prolongation. Astaxanthin is thought to reduce muscle fatigue and inhibit the production of lactic acid, a fatiguing substance, due to its ability to inhibit the use of glycogen in muscle.
Astaxanthin is also thought to reduce muscle damage, which is a cause of muscle soreness. There are several causes of muscle damage, but in endurance exercise such as running, the main cause is thought to be reactive oxygen species generated during exercise.
Astaxanthin is thought to be an effective scavenger of reactive oxygen species, thereby reducing muscle damage.
It may also improve exercise performance and be useful in exercise therapy for weight control and visceral fat reduction in athletes.
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the skin causes many spots and wrinkles to appear on the face. These UV-induced spots and wrinkles are known as photo-aging. Skin wrinkles form when the components in the dermis that control the firmness and elasticity of the skin, such as collagen and elastin, are damaged by UV radiation. However, it has been shown that the development of these wrinkles can be prevented by antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.
Astaxanthin has a very strong ability to scavenge active oxygen (singlet oxygen and is said to be effective in preventing 'photo ageing' caused by UV radiation.
Astaxanthin is one of the few ingredients that can reach the brain. As the brain is a very important organ for humans, only a few ingredients can reach the brain.
Products containing Astaxanthin:
Astaxanthin Soft Capsules are recommended for people:
[1] Astaxanthin activates the fat-burning accelerator PPARγ in adipocytes and macrophages, thereby improving anti-obesity and insulin resistance.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22732454
[2] Astaxanthin, a natural carotenoid, can prevent fatty liver and other conditions by reducing fat accumulation in liver cells.
[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22707263
[3] Astaxanthin has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines produced by reactive oxygen species.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22690149
[4] Astaxanthin has antioxidant properties and suppresses the production of inflammatory cytokines in human keratinocytes caused by ultraviolet B-wave (UVB) radiation. Astaxanthin is expected to protect the skin and body from UVB radiation.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22626465
[5] Astaxanthin has antioxidant properties and is thought to have a whitening effect by inhibiting tyrosinase activity and thereby inhibiting melanin synthesis.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22639095
[6] Astaxanthin prevented the reduction of collagen production caused by UV rays through its active oxygen removal action. Astaxanthin is also expected to have health benefits for the skin as it inhibits UV-induced melanin production.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22628205
[7] Taking fish oil containing astaxanthin, DHA and EPA is expected to improve immune function and protect the body against the risk of vascular disease and infectious diseases.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22465178
[8] Women who continuously applied creams containing 6 mg and 2 mg of astaxanthin for eight weeks showed improvements in skin wrinkles, age spots, elasticity, texture and degree of dryness, while men showed improvements in elasticity and water retention. Astaxanthin is thought to help support skin health in both men and women.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22428137
[9] Astaxanthin has been reported to inhibit cholesterol increase and is thought to help prevent atherosclerosis.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22406426
[10] Astaxanthin protects the eyes from UV radiation by preventing corneal cell death caused by UV radiation through its antioxidant action.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22393271
[11] Astaxanthin at a dose of 25 mg/kg for 21 days has been shown to reduce drug-induced liver damage. Astaxanthin is a promising ingredient to protect liver health.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22312033
[12] Astaxanthin intake has the ability to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation caused by diabetes. Astaxanthin is thought to help prevent lifestyle-related diseases through its anti-inflammatory and atherosclerosis-preventing effects.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22309505
[13] AGEs are thought to be one of the causes of diabetic retinopathy. Astaxanthin helps prevent diabetic retinopathy by inhibiting VEGF (a type of protein that produces new blood vessels) and MMPs (a type of protease), which are pathological conditions of diabetic retinopathy.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21779563
[14] Astaxanthin activates LDL receptors, promotes beta-oxidation in the liver and activates lipid-metabolising enzymes, improving cholesterol and lipid metabolism, and astaxanthin is thought to have a preventive effect against hyperlipidaemia.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21734060
[15] Astaxanthin and fish oil are known to help enhance immunocompetence. Fish oil promotes an increase in B lymphocytes and astaxanthin is expected to prevent oxidative stress on human lymphocytes by preventing the generation of reactive oxygen species.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21619892
[16] Astaxanthin is expected to activate antioxidant enzymes in diabetic patients, as oxidative stress substances decreased and antioxidant enzymes increased after three weeks of astaxanthin intake.
