Astaxanthin is a natural carotenoid with higher antioxidant activity. It is mainly used in the aquaculture industry. With economic development and health concerns, especially the increase in age-related degenerative diseases, there are more demands for ingredients of carotenoid in improving antioxidant and immune functions. As a   food ingredient and dietary supplement, astaxanthin has more widely applications.

Among antioxidant functional food ingredients, there are many researches on β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin. But there are fewer studies in astaxanthin supplement. As costly and cause environmental pollution, and thus have been strongly developed rain raw red ball algal production of natural astaxanthin extracted from shrimp shells. Carotenoids, astaxanthin antioxidant activity of the third largest, after the lycopene and γ-carotene. Astaxanthin as antioxidants, and other carotenoids different characteristics through the blood-brain barrier, so you can protect the brain and nervous to avoid oxidative damage.

Astaxanthin derivative antioxidant role, the most studied anti-inflammatory, skin care and heart health. Anti-inflammatory performance and anti-oxidation resistance are closely related. The animal experiments found that regular intake of astaxanthin on the sort of inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. A trial showed that arthritis patients taking the astaxanthin level of pain decreased by 35%, after taking four weeks. Studies have shown that, in the prevention of lipid ultraviolet light, oxidation, and protect the skin from UV damage; astaxanthin has a more significant effect than β-carotene and lutein. It protects the cell membrane internal and membrane surface to prevent oxidation.

Human skin by sun exposure to ultraviolet light to stimulate the skin was red, or sun spots. Thus the market has a lot of sunscreen, skin cream market. Subjects before taking astaxanthin, the first determination of the dose of UV radiation intensity is really necessary in its skin to become red, then two weeks consecutive daily doses of Astaxanthin 4mg. Two weeks after the skin to the formation of the sun spot UV intensity required test results show that the required UV dose than before taking astaxanthin was significantly enhanced.

Plasma low-density lipoprotein oxidation is an important reason for the increase in blood viscosity and promotes atherosclerosis. A lot of clinical data showed that the intake of exogenous antioxidants can prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. A trial showed that daily intake of 3.6 mg astaxanthin for two consecutive weeks, the prevention of LDL oxidation, increasing the concentration of high density lipoprotein. Therefore, astaxanthin by changing the composition of lipoprotein cholesterol in the blood to the heart health benefits.

The cosmetic raw material suppliers add astaxanthin in cosmetics. It can play the effect of anti-aging and sunscreen. If using it in lipstick, it will keep the coloring and skin health for a long time. With the deepening search of astaxanthin’s functions, their application fields are gradually turned to food, beverages and cosmetics market. But in view of consumption statistics, international astaxanthin’s largest markets are in fish, prawns, crabs and poultry feed additives.Source:http://www.cosprm.com