Astaxanthin is considered the most powerful antioxidant, with health benefits supported by a compelling body of scientific studies, including the ability to scavenge free radicals and boost the immune system. Sometimes referred to as ‘super vitamin E’, it also promotes healthy hair growth, a glowing skin and eye health, with significant improvement in the outcome of various ocular diseases.
It has also been found to:
- Increase energy
- Boost physical performance
- Reduce inflammation
- Aid in eye health and reduce strain
- Improve blood pressure
- Help with diabetes
Furthermore, in combination with exercise, it is even more effective in reducing weight.
Astaxanthin belongs to the carotenoid family called xanthophylls and is a red pigment found in algae, yeast, bacteria and fungi. It is also naturally occurring in foods such as salmon, but the consumption of these are not comparable to dose levels recommended to experience the health benefits.
Hence the need for supplementation and food fortification.
State-of-the-art tech
To answer this demand, Algalif has devised a state-of-the-art tech to develop a highly concentrated astaxanthin oleoresin (natural flavouring ingredient) from microalgae.
For its part, Divi’s has used its expertise in fat-soluble ingredient formulation to transform the oleoresin into beadlets that contain 5% astaxanthin.
Called AstaBead, the antioxidant pearls come in two formats for easy handling – as beadlets that can be used in energy or cereal bars; and as a fast-dispersing ingredient for fortified powder beverages.
AstaBead has also shown to have excellent performance in applications like gummies, twizzlers and tablets.
Divi’s Nutraceuticals was founded in 2006 as a subsidiary of Divi’s Laboratories, a $950m global supplier of active pharmaceuticals (APIs). Divi’s Nutraceuticals manufactures over 65 carotenoid and vitamin product forms of beta-carotene, vitamins, astaxanthin and lycopene, among others, supplying the food, beverage and nutraceutical industries around the world.
Algalif is a supplier of pure astaxanthin products – ingredients and finished formulations – from algae to help solve the nutritional and sustainability needs of future generations. Its indoor production process is designed to deliver high yields of premium astaxanthin, using pure Icelandic water and renewable energy.