Supplements & functional ingredients
lycopene, as well as hydroxy carotenoids, were the most effective carotenoids in reducing ferric ions in the FRAP assay, suggesting that it has the strongest antioxidant properties. It is astaxanthin, however, that has been gaining the most attention in recent years. A red-orange carotenoid pigment, it has been shown in animal and clinical studies to have powerful antioxidant properties. It is abundant in marine animals and plants, with one of the richest sources being Haematococcus pluvialis algae. “Algae astaxanthin’s effect on cardiovascular health has been the subject of numerous studies,” says Allen Levine, CEO of the Natural Algae Astaxanthin Association (NAXA). “As a carotenoid with strong antioxidant properties, algae astaxanthin has shown success in cardiovascular clinical studies. Its antioxidant activity is greater than beta-carotene and other carotenoids such as lutein, canthaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and vitamin C.”
Not only is astaxanthin a powerful antioxidant with a unique property of being able to insert into membranes and lipid bilayers, it is also a potent anti-inflammatory agent and, as such, is a promising therapeutic agent for patients with cardiovascular problems. So far, studies have shown no significant adverse events with the use of astaxanthin, though it attenuates biomarkers of oxidative stress and
inflammation. Experimental investigations in a range of species using a cardiac ischaemia-reperfusion model demonstrated cardiac muscle preservation with the oral or intravenous delivery of astaxanthin prior to the induction of ischaemia or the decreased blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle. While the health benefits of carotenoids are increasingly well-established, there is some debate within the industry as to the relative benefits of natural carotenoids compared with their synthetic counterparts. Most of the commonly used carotenoids including canthaxanthin, astaxanthin and beta- carotene are largely produced by chemical synthesis, but Naxa is advocating for natural algae astaxanthin. “Although synthetic carotenoids account for a high share in the market, consumers prefer opting for natural and clean-label products, which is projected to drive the growth of the naturally- sourced carotenoids market in Europe,” says Bohm. “Synthesised carotenoids have the same activities compared to natural carotenoids, when comparing single compounds. However, in natural extracts, often several compounds act synergistically.” Natural or synthetic, carotenoids undoubtedly have a key role to play in preventative healthcare in the years ahead. It seems that orange is now the new health hack. ●
www.icelandharvest.com
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Ingredients Insight /
www.ingredients-insight.com
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