The Latest Study on Astaxanthin

The 21st Annual Meeting on Carotenoid Research was held on September 6th and 7th, at the media center, Osaka University, Japan . Main subject of discussion was the present status and forecast of carotenoid research on materials science, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, life science and medical. For this event, medical, drug, bio, chemical and physical science researchers gathered from all over the world.

Fuji presented the result of the latest studies on astaxanthin.


 

Astaxanthin’s posseses very powerful antioxidant activity to combat singlet oxygen when compared to popular antioxidants. Astaxanthin may be used to defend against singlet oxygen damage particularly for skin and eye health.


Singlet oxygen (1O2) is an active oxygen species generated in human skin by exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) that causes skin damage. In this study, astaxanthin, a carotenoid extracted from Haematococcus pluvialis and commonly found in salmon meat, the skin of sea breams, and shells of shrimp and crab, was found to powerfully quench singlet oxygen.  Our results show that the quenching effect of astaxanthin is 800 times greater than coenzyme Q10. Furthermore, astaxanthin was about 75 times greater than alpha lipoic acid, about 550 times greater than green tea catechins and about 6000 times greater than vitamin C.

 

Singlet Oxygen Quenching activity was measured making its condition fair for both water soluble and lipid solible antioxidants.

 

 

Study [1] Authors:  Yasuhiro Nishida*, Eiji Yamashita*, Wataru Miki 

*Fuji Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

[Reference] Shimidzu, N., Goto, M., and Miki, W., Carotenoids as singlet oxygen quenchers in marine organisms. Fish. Sci., 62, 134–137 (1996)

 

Astaxanthin intake combined with exercise promotes lipid metabolism and inhibits weight gain on high fat diets.

Four-week old male mice were divided into 2 groups, a non-exercise group and an exercise group.  Each group was further divided into 3 subgroups, a normal diet subgroup, a high-fat diet subgroup, and a high-fat diet with astaxanthin (6 mg/kg) subgroup.  The diet was fed orally to each group respectively for 60 days. The exercise groups were assigned 40-minute exercise on a treadmill at 20 meters/minute, three times a week.  On Day 60, skeletal muscles were excised and the enzyme activity (3-hydroxylacyl-CoA dehydrogenase) was measured.Weight increase was significant in the high-fat diet groups both with and without exercise compared with the normal diet groups.  However, weight increase was significantly suppressed in the high-fat diet groups when astaxanthin was administered (Fig. 1).  The results with astaxanthin subgroup was significant: the animals maintained same weight as that of the normal diet group (Fig. 2). Regarding adipose tissue, the astaxanthin groups significantly inhibited increase in adipose mass. Furthermore, the combination of exercise with astaxanthin diet provided even greater inhibitory effect (Fig. 3).

 

This study indicates that combination of astaxanthin with exercise increases enzyme activity (3- hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase) in skeletal muscles, which promotes lipid metabolism and reduces body fat. Increase in muscle weight was also confirmed.

This study suggests that intake of astaxanthin with regular exercise may lead to:

•Weight loss
•Prevention of metabolic syndrome and
•Improve endurance and sports performance

These multiple actions, elucidated by various clinical tests, are particularly noteworthy characteristics of astaxanthin. It is expected to encourage widespread use of astaxanthin towards prevention of metabolic syndrome and life style related diseases as well as improved performance in sports activities.

Study [2] Authors: Mayumi Ikeuchi1, Tomoyuki Koyama1, Jiro Takahashi2, Kazuyoshi Yazawa1 ( 1 Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 2 Fuji Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.)

 

 

Fuji Chemical Industry, Japan is the world leader in the production and research of AstaREAL® natural astaxanthin. For more information, please visit www.astareal.com or contact us.
AstaREAL is a trademark or registered trademark of Fuji Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. in Japan , United States of America , Europe and/or other countries.

 

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