Astaxanthin is the most abundant carotenoid pigment found in crabs and other marine animals such as salmon, trout and shrimp, and it is being sold as nutritional supplement that delivers a multitude of health benefits to humans. Astaxanthin, similar in structure to beta-carotene, a pigment found in green vegetables, protects against the development of ocular and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and glaucoma.
Source
Astaxanthin occurs naturally in most marine crustaceans and some species of fish. It imparts the pink color in salmon. The amount extractable from marine animals varies. According to iHerb.com, "A typical serving of Atlantic salmon provides approximately 1 mg of astaxanthin, while a similar serving of Pacific salmon might provide 4-5 mg." Red yeast (Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous) also has been developed as a natural source of astaxanthin.
Antioxidant Properties
Astaxanthin is a powerful biological antioxidant and shows strong free radical scavenging activity. It can be effective for people with high levels of bad cholesterol. According to Beta-Glucan-Info.com, "Studies show that antioxidants like astaxanthin reduce the amount of oxidized (free radical) LDL-cholesterol." This antioxidant shows promise in fighting macular degeneration or gradual vision loss and boosting the immune system.
Therapeutic Uses
Astaxanthin functions inside the cells of your body. It has greater anti-inflammatory capability than vitamin E, so it can be used for joint pain, arthritis, back pain and muscle soreness. Other health benefits of astaxanthin include reduction of high blood pressure, prevention of cardiovascular disease and protection against the development of ulcer disease. According to Cyanotech.com, "Astaxanthin has a variety of properties that can help people prevent heart disease and also help people with heart disease to minimize their risk of a heart attack or stroke."
Nutritional Supplement
Astaxanthin is a dietary supplement from algae extract, and its health benefits have been discovered recently. People use astaxanthin alone or in combination with other health supplements. While astaxanthin is sold as antioxidant nutritional supplement, its major benefits are in eye and skin health. It reduces eye strain and related ocular symptoms and helps people suffering from autoimmune eye conditions such as uveitis or Cogan's syndrome.
Fish Food
Apart from being a highly nutritional supplement for humans, astaxanthin is also used as a feed supplement for salmon, shrimp, crabs and chickens. In fact, astaxanthin product initially was developed to serve the fish food market. Astaxanthin is used mainly as a colorant added to feeds for fish.
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