Natural astaxanthin from the microalgae, Haematococcus pluvialis, is a natural occurring carotenoid that can be found from arctic marine environments, to common fresh water rock pools throughout the world. Astaxanthin is what gives the pink and red color to salmon, shrimp and lobster.

In the natural environment, animals depend on their diet to obtain astaxanthin and other carotenoids since they cannot produce carotenoids themselves. The most abundant source of astaxanthin in nature is Haematococcus pluvialis, which will accumulate astaxanthin in lipid vesicles during periods of nutrient deficiency and environmental stress.

Because Haematococcus pluvialis often grows in places that are exposed to intense sunlight during its dormant phase, astaxanthin functions to protect the cell nucleus against free radicals generated by UV radiation that would otherwise cause damage to its DNA and peroxidise energy reservoirs.

Watch the video “The Story Behind Nature’s Most Powerful Antioxidant” below ↓

The Power of Natural Astaxanthin

Natural astaxanthin has a unique molecular structure that makes it literally hundreds of times stronger than other antioxidant molecules. Additionally, it has no prooxidant activity even when subjected to enormous amount of stress from environmental factors and free radicals, thus astaxanthin is considered a pure antioxidant.

Growing Demand for Natural Astaxanthin

The market for natural astaxanthin from the microalga Haematococcus pluvialis is booming. A report by Research and Markets states that the global market is growing at a CAGR of approximately 13% and will reach US$770 million by 2024. The buoyant astaxanthin market shows no sign of slowing down, as consumers continue to look for preventive, natural ingredients backed by science.

Increasing consumption of antioxidants in the food and supplements segments is also expected to fuel the astaxanthin market during the forecast period, with countries such as Germany, the UK and Italy being the major contributors to this growth.

Astaxanthin’s popularity is rising rapidly at the moment, not just because of its antioxidant potential, but also because it offers a wide range of clinically validated benefits that consumers can feel working within their bodies. Plus, the ingredient can be used in many different formulas and has been the subject of a lot of new product development and research.