14/07/2022

Astaxanthin: the super carotenoid for your skin!

Here is a major nutrient that helps fight certain forms of aging, particularly those caused by sun rays: astaxanthin. This powerful antioxidant from the carotenoid family protects the skin from UV radiation by neutralizing free radicals. It also protects cells, organs, and tissues from oxidative stress in this way. Thanks to its unique molecular structure, astaxanthin is indeed the best known scavenger of free radicals generated by UV rays to date. But where does this molecule come from? How is it able to prepare our skin for the sun? And how should it be consumed? A focus on a pigment good for the skin, but not only that…   

 

Astaxanthin: a super powerful antioxidant pigment

Astaxanthin is a natural pigment belonging to the large family of carotenoids. This pigment comes from several genera of plankton and unicellular algae, but its most concentrated source comes from the freshwater alga Haematococcus pluvialis. Salmon, krill, crustaceans, lobster, and flamingos feed on this microalga, which explains their pink color. Astaxanthin has antioxidant benefits superior to those of beta-carotene and also contains other important carotenoids such as lutein, canthaxanthin, and beta-carotene. 

 

Its role in the natural state

In nature, the role of astaxanthin is to protect microalgae when they are subjected to external stress, such as degradation of their natural habitat, nitrogen deficiency, or excessive sunlight. This nutrient also plays a key role in strengthening the organisms of the species that consume it the most. Wild salmon, for example, accumulates astaxanthin in its muscles and can contain up to 40 mg per kilo. This partly explains its great endurance, as it can indeed swim hundreds of kilometers upstream.

 

What makes astaxanthin unique!

This red pigment is one of the natural elements with the greatest potential in the nutraceutical field due to its particular chemical structure.

• Brain & eye protection: astaxanthin is the only antioxidant able to cross the blood-brain barrier as well as the blood-retinal barrier. The brain and eyes thus benefit from its effects, as do all the cells of the body.

• Complete cell protection: while other antioxidants act only inside the cell membrane, astaxanthin is able to position itself both inside and outside the cell wall to encompass the entire cell.

• A pure antioxidant: this antioxidant has the particularity of not becoming pro-oxidant. Unlike many antioxidants, astaxanthin does not convert in the human body into vitamin A (retinol), excess of which is dangerous for humans.

• Skin ally: this molecule has the particularity of protecting the skin from the harmful effects of the sun and promoting skin hydration and elasticity.

• Powerful antioxidant activity: astaxanthin has a particularly high antioxidant activity. It is said to be:

• 65 times higher than vitamin C

• 54 times higher than beta-carotene

• 15 times higher than vitamin E

• 20 times higher than synthetic astaxanthin

 

Astaxanthin: your ally to protect your skin from the sun!

Ultraviolet radiation produces oxidative stress at the cellular level. It causes the production of free radicals that can damage structures such as lipids, proteins, and DNA. The antioxidant effects of astaxanthin protect the skin from the harmful effects of the sun and promote its hydration and elasticity. But beware, it does not replace UV protection; sunscreen remains essential. As summer approaches, it is recommended to prepare and protect your skin with astaxanthin. This pigment will thus help you better tolerate your sun exposure, thanks to its unique composition and the presence of other carotenoids…

 

Carotenoids, the secret to golden and radiant skin

The class of antioxidants to prioritize as the sunny days approach is carotenoids, which enhance skin pigmentation, improve sun tolerance, and provide protection to various tissues in direct contact with light (skin, eyes). Carotenoids also stimulate melanin production – the pigment that colors the skin – and counteract the immunosuppressive action of ultraviolet rays, that is, the UV-related decrease in immune defenses. These powerful antioxidants can therefore protect our cells against attacks from certain free radicals, the oxidative stress that rusts us from within. Among carotenoids, we find beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and of course astaxanthin.

 

Astaxanthin as a shield against skin aging

Natural antioxidants are highly valued molecules in dermatology as they help fight free radicals whose accumulation causes many damages to the skin. Astaxanthin is known to protect the skin from UV effects, promote tanning, and provide a sun-kissed complexion. As a complement to sun protection, astaxanthin helps prepare the skin to respond to prolonged sun exposure. Due to its ability to protect against damage from light radiation and photoaging, astaxanthin helps protect the skin from aging and prevents sunburn. It helps prevent sunburns and dehydration and improves skin elasticity. It is a true cellular shield that helps preserve its youthful capital and makes the skin more resistant to the sun.

 

A powerful action against ultraviolet rays

To understand astaxanthin's action against photoaging of the skin, one must look at the behavior of cells when the skin is exposed to UV. The irradiation caused by the sun triggers a series of enzymes whose activity causes degradation of collagen and elastic fibers in the skin. Involved in the appearance of the first signs of skin aging, this enzymatic activity is induced and reinforced by free radicals and inflammatory cytokines. Astaxanthin has a powerful antioxidant effect to fight free radicals, as well as an anti-inflammatory activity to counter inflammatory cytokines. Compared to beta-carotene, astaxanthin can neutralize free radicals produced in our cells under ultraviolet rays twice as effectively.

 

Astaxanthin will therefore allow you to face the sun with complete peace of mind, thanks to its beneficial actions on the skin:

• Prepares the skin for sun exposure

• Protects the skin against external aggressions (UV rays, pollution)

• Prevents wrinkles and age spots

• Prevents lucites, these sun allergies particularly affecting women

• Hydrates the skin

• Slows premature aging of the epidermis

• Improves tone, firmness, and complexion radiance

• Preserves the skin's youthful capital

• Promotes tanning

 

How to consume astaxanthin?

Astaxanthin is not synthesizable by the body, so it must be provided through diet and/or supplementation. This carotenoid is naturally supplied in the diet by seafood products like krill, shrimp, lobsters, salmon, or other red-fleshed fish. But you would need to eat too large quantities to benefit from its effects. Supplementation is an ideal solution to prepare and protect your skin before summer. Make sure to obtain natural astaxanthin (as synthetic versions also exist), and verify that your astaxanthin has undergone a supercritical CO2 extraction process, like natural Green Ethnies astaxanthin. This process works at low temperature to preserve the best of the active ingredients, which are then very close to their original plant version.

 

 

 

Other benefits of astaxanthin

The combination of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of astaxanthin allows it to act beyond the beneficial aspects related to skin health:

• Effect on physical performance: astaxanthin helps increase physical strength and resistance to exhaustion, and promotes muscle recovery after exertion.

• Brain health: astaxanthin improves cognitive functions and prevents certain neurodegenerative diseases associated with oxidative stress.

• Cardiovascular system protection: astaxanthin plays a role in lipid oxidation, thereby preventing arteriosclerosis.

• Immune system support: astaxanthin prevents cell oxidation.

• Anti-inflammatory action: astaxanthin blocks enzymes promoting inflammation, thus reducing joint pain (arthritis, tendinitis, etc.).

• Digestive health: astaxanthin aids in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections, gastric inflammations, and ulcers.

• Antidiabetic: astaxanthin produces a better response to hyperglycemia by improving glucose and insulin.

• Protects the eyes: astaxanthin prevents eye fatigue, dryness, sun sensitivity, age-related macular degeneration, and improves perception.

• Improvement of male fertility: astaxanthin appears to increase sperm strength and health.

 

 

Sources

Biological properties of astaxanthin produced by Haematococcus Pluvialis under stress conditions. Sadoud Meryem. Doctoral thesis, 2020.

Astaxanthin in Exercise Metabolism, Performance and Recovery: A Review. Daniel R. Brown, Lewis A. Gough et al. Front Nutr. 2017; 4: 76.

Protective effects of astaxanthin on skin deterioration. K. Tominaga et al., J Clin Biochem Nutr, July 2017, 61(1): 33–39.

Astaxanthin attenuates the UVA-induced up-regulation of matrix-metalloproteinase-1 and skin fibroblast elastase in human dermal fibroblasts. Suganuma K., Nakajima H., Ohtsuki M., Imokawa. Journal of dermatological science. 2010.

Marine Carotenoids against Oxidative Stress: Effects on Human Health. Maria Alessandra Gammone, Graziano Riccioni and Nicolantonio D’Orazio. Mar Drugs. 2015 Oct; 13(10): 6226-6246.

Dietary Supplementation with Astaxanthin-Rich Algal Meal Improves Strength Endurance – A Double Blind Placebo Controlled Study on Male Students. Curt L. Malmstena and Ake Lignelle. Carotenoid Science, Vol. 13, 2008 ISSN 1880-5671.

Astaxanthin, canthaxanthin and β-carotene differently affect UVA-induced oxidative damage and expression of oxidative stress-responsive enzymes. Emanuela Camera and al. Experimental Dermatology. October 2008, 18(3):222-31.

 

Nutraceuticals (functional foods) and dietary supplements in the treatment of male infertility. Frank Comhaire, Ahmed Mahmoud. Andrology, 2005, 15. No.1, 41-47.