Awe-mazing Astaxanthin: Harnessing the Value of Anti-Oxidant Powerhouse Relies On Bioavailability
Scientists at Valensa International continue to be in awe of the anti-oxidant powerhouse called astaxanthin, and are proud that they have a bioavailable form of this amazing compound. As a powerful anti-oxidant, astaxanthin plays a key role in health and wellness by driving important biological processes, such as inflammation and immunity. For example, this anti-oxidant can scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can accumulate when the body is under stress, causing damage to cells and cellular DNA. Plus, astaxanthin can do this extremely well. It has 6,000 times more power than Vitamin C to scavenge ROS, 800 times the power of Co-enzyme Q10, and 550 times more power than Vitamin E1.
According to Margaret Dohnalek, Ph.D., the lead scientist at Valensa International, tapping in to the power of this anti-oxidant requires that astaxanthin be bioavailable so it can be absorbed by the body.
“A quality, natural astaxanthin product is not enough for the body. It is important to develop technology that allows astaxanthin to be absorbed. Our Zanthin® Natural Astaxanthin with xp3 patented technology is a proven way to deliver a bioavailable form of this compound. We also have human clinical dose response studies to further demonstrate our product’s bioavailability.”
Zanthin® Natural Astaxanthin with proven bioavailability gives Valensa the opportunity to probe the potential of this amazing compound for health and wellness. Dr. Dohnalek said the Valensa science team has additional discovery research, including follow up studies to the groundbreaking in vitro work with Zanthin® conducted by the research team at Clemson University, published in the peer-reviewed journal Antioxidants.
“This study shows how powerful Valensa’s Zanthin® Natural Astaxanthin is as an antioxidant, outside of the scientific value proposition for this compound in inflammation and immunity. We want to better understand the mechanisms at the cellular level to expand the application of Zanthin® in health and wellness solutions,” Dr. Dohnalek said.
Dr. Dohnalek further explained Valensa’s process of producing Zanthin®. “Our astaxanthin comes from a natural microalgae source, Haematococcus pluvialis, which is cultivated in an optimized hybrid production technology system in a remote, pristine Chilean environment. The astaxanthin is extracted from the microalgae at our organic certified facility in Eustis, Florida using our proprietary, green Deep Extract® supercritical CO2 extraction process. We do not use any harsh organic solvents so our Zanthin® is free from solvent residues. Zanthin® Natural Astaxanthin has a four-year shelf life because we have stabilized it using an all-natural O2B® peroxidation blocker to prevent degradation of astaxanthin during storage, encapsulation and packaging,” she said. “The xp3 delivery system further enhances the value proposition for Zanthin® Natural Astaxanthin, allowing us to provide a bioavailable form of this antioxidant with proven human clinical dose response.”
What is Astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin is a naturally-occurring, marine-based carotenoid, discovered in 1972 by London Basil Weedon. Typically found in shrimp, krill, salmon, it is also available through the cultivation of the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis. This cultured microalgae is a rich natural, and sustainable source of astaxanthin approved for use in human dietary supplements in the United States, Europe, Japan, Korea and many other areas in the world.
Valensa offers Zanthin® in Oleoresin, Beadlets or Softgels.
For more information about Zanthin®, please visit valensa.com or contact Sendhil Pani, Director of Sales and Micoalgae Business Development, s.pani@valensa.com, (609) 649-1252.
1 Zhang ZW, et al. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2016;2016:6859523