Regardless of the fitness discipline you’re committed to, one universal truth remains: Your output is only as good as your input. To the maximum potential you demand from your body when it’s time to do it, the cleanliness of your food is not only a priority, but an important biological necessity.
A powerful carotenoid antioxidant that has gotten a lot of buzz in recent years is astaxanthin (pronounced as-tuh-ZAN-thin). If this is new to you, you’re not alone, but you can pay attention because it will soon be a force multiplier that aligns your cellular regeneration with your physical ambitions.
AstaReal, part of Fuji Chemical Industries, is the company considered by many to be the world authority behind astaxanthin. As Academic communications specialist Susan HamrahiND explains, the brand’s roots run as deep as science itself.
“We have a manufacturing facility outside of Stockholm, Sweden, and that’s where the original research began.”
What is astaxanthin?
In simple terms, astaxanthin is a living red pigment found in nature, typically in the microalgae that salmon, shrimp and flamingos eat to get their legendary color and durability. It serves as an antioxidant, but it is very different from others. While others only sit on one side of the cell membrane (inside or outside), astaxanthin is unique because of its elongated, molecular shape. Therefore, it covers the entire cell membrane and acts like a bridge.
Astaxanthin’s vibrant red color is the result of its unique molecular structure, which contains a long chain of double conjugated bonds that absorb blue and UV light. In nature, microalgae produce this pigment as a biological shader, turning from green to deep red to protect their DNA from severe environmental stress and oxidation.
Just as researcher Ake Lignell is studying how salmon can swim 1,000 miles, astaxanthin is a key factor in protecting their muscle tissue from burning. Hamrahi reported that this is something that has led to further research and if it has similar benefits in humans.
“This is our foundation. How will this nutrient help us? How can we continue research and provide applications and innovation for widespread use?”
According to Hamrahi, this study showed that astaxanthin can be very beneficial for people, especially when it comes to recovery. Astaxanthin may help improve cognitive function, skin and eye health, provide cardiovascular and joint support, and may even reduce lactic acid build-up.
Karen Hecht, Vice President of Science, AstaRealshared that this study led him to the conclusion that there may be more benefits than this, so they are doubling down on research, including how it can help power endurance athletes.
“Astaxanthin works in the mitochondria. And we can study a little more clearly the benefits of mitochondrial health or promoting mitochondrial function for endurance athletes because their muscle fiber types are really rich in mitochondria, and so they’re more dependent on mitochondria for energy. That’s where astaxanthin comes in.”
Athletes with muscle-building goals may want to look into astaxanthin research in the future, Hecht said. He and Hamrahi conducted research under the leadership of Dr. S. Ziyang Liu shared that he encouraged the elderly to walk on paths with higher inclines to force them to work harder. The study showed that thanks to astaxanthin, as well as vitamin E and zinc, not only were they able to do this more easily, but the size of the lower leg muscles actually increased. (1)
“So not only were these people able to run and keep going … their speed increased, their endurance increased, but the muscles in their legs also increased.”
An ally for the journey
Jackie Kaminski, who is well known in the world of MMA “The Food Fight,” First learned about AstaReal and astaxanthin while at a conference. After talking to Hett and learning more, she was impressed.
“What attracted me to astaxanthin was the research it offered because of how interesting and practical it was for the population it was serving at the time.”
Kaminski works with many athletes who are preparing for meets or events and also have to travel during their training or competitions. Different challenges around travel and different climates can make athletes more susceptible to illnesses or health problems that can affect performance. That’s why Kaminski recommends astaxanthin as part of his immune system.
“It’s like an insurance policy. It might not be something you feel the impact of every day,” he said. “It’s something you have to gradually adopt over time. But I would make the same argument for taking protein powder and vitamin C. You don’t feel it, you know that by taking it, you just know that it’s doing something good for you.”
Astaxanthin can help improve cell function, which is why Kaminski also recommends that older adults take it regularly. It is also fat-soluble, meaning it stays in the body’s tissues longer than water-soluble vitamin C. This makes it a more “durable” form of protection during long journeys where food may be inadequate.
Kaminski also echoed what Hett said about the muscle-building potential that can come from making astaxanthin part of a well-rounded nutritional regimen, which is another reason to use it.
“We’re seeing, especially in older people, astaxanthin helps restore those signals, so in the older population they can do exercise and do all these things and they’ll have a better response to it because astaxanthin just creates a more efficient cell.”
Doses and sources
Hecht and Hamrahi reported that the standard recommended dose of astaxanthin for most healthy adults is 4-12 milligrams per day. Some sources have shared dosages ranging from 2 to 24 milligrams per day. (2) Hamrahi confirmed that astaxanthin is an ingredient that is very difficult for you to get the recommended daily amount from food alone.
“That’s 254 pounds a year to get 12 milligrams a day.”
It’s much more convenient to get it in supplement form, and that’s why AstaReal has earned a reputation as an optimal source. Hecht confirms that most of the studies done on astaxanthin contain AstaReal, and that’s because they manufacture it with care.
“It comes from a unique indoor cultivation facility inspired by our pharmaceutical parent company that sets standards and quality standards,” Hett said. “AstaReal Astaxanthin is the most studied brand of natural astaxanthin from algae.”
The only side effect that has been reported is that the dye can transfer to the waste and make the movements redder, like if someone eats a large amount of beetroot. However, this study did not report any other abnormalities. (3)
AstaReal acts as both a manufacturer and raw material supplier for other companies that want to use astaxanthin as a key nutrient in their products. All three experts said that if AstaReal is on the label, it’s a natural source that consumers can trust for their health needs. They advise that natural sources serve consumers better than synthetic versions. Whether it’s for general health or to support efforts to improve performance, Kaminski concludes that astaxanthin should be considered by all fitness enthusiasts.
“I found a very practical use for astaxanthin, and now I recommend it to everyone.”
Click here for more information about AstaReal
Click here for more information on astaxanthin.
LITERATURE
1. Astaxanthin supplementation improves metabolic adaptation to aerobic training in the elderly. Sophia Z Liu 1, Ana P Valencia 1, Matt P VanDoren 2, Eric G Shankland 1, Babek Roshanravan 3, Kevin E Conley 1 4 5, David Marcinek 1 5 6
2. Astaxanthin: How Much Is Too Much? Safety review. Thomas Brendler 1 2 3, Elizabeth Mary Williamson 4
3. Preliminary clinical evaluation of the toxicity and efficacy of a new astaxanthin-rich extract of Haematococcus pluvialis. Akira Satoh 1, Shinji Tsuji 1, Yumika Okada 1, Nagisa Murakami 1, Maki Urami 1, Keisuke Nakagawa 1, Masaharu Ishikura 1,*, Mikiyuki Katagiri 2, Yoshihiko Koga 3, Takuji Shirasawa 2
