What is Astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin, a member of the carotenoid family, is an oxygenated pigment called a xanthophyll. It is a fat-soluble nutrient with a molecular weight of 596.8 Da and a long, double-bonded polyene chain with a six-membered ring polar (water-loving) end group. Its unique molecular structure gives it superior antioxidant capacity.
Astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant that occurs naturally in various types of marine life, including krill, shrimp and salmon. Categorized as a carotenoid in the terpenes class of phytochemicals, the naturally occurring nutrient is considerably more powerful than antioxidants such as Vitamin E. This particular carotenoid can also be synthetically produced. There are a number of sources for astaxanthin. Along with various types of fish, this nutritional supplement can also be harvested from yeast and even the feathers of a few birds. Along with ingesting the antioxidant by consuming fish, it is also possible to purchase the product in capsule and pill form for use as a daily nutritional supplement or as an additive to other foods. It is not unusual for synthetic and natural astaxanthin to be used as an ingredient in feeds produced for chickens, shrimp, and salmon. The nutrient helps to add color to the meat and eggs as well as promote growth. This makes the inclusion of astaxanthin id
