New Study Highlights Development of Algae That Rapidly Produces Natural Astaxanthin

 

Astaxanthin, a colorless pigment found in the human body, is produced by the oxidation of a compound of oxygen and hydrogen. It occurs in nature in varying concentrations, and is widely utilized in food and cosmetic products for its rich optical, chemical, and pharmaceutical properties. It is widely recognized as a dietary supplement due to its therapeutic effect in a vast range of diseases and conditions ranging from cataracts to diabetes and heart disease. However, it has not been examined thoroughly in humans suffering from diabetes because of the difficulty in obtaining animal protein and the fact that humans cannot absorb pigments derived from animal source.

The primary source of astaxanthin in foods or supplements is marine phytoplankton, which is fed to the animals as a marine nutrition supplement. Recently, in October 2019, scientists from Japan have discovered that single-stage astaxanthin production enhances the non-mevalonate pathway and photosynthetic central metabolism in Synechococcus 7002. The study reported development of algae that rapidly produces natural astaxanthin.

Astaxanthin has high level of carotenoids, a group of powerful antioxidants. As carotenoids, astaxanthin are highly effective against cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other common diseases. Astaxanthin is highly effective against blueberry, bilberry, blackberry, and chocolate. It is also effective against Parkinson's disease, gallstones, and kidney stones. Although, there are studies on the effectiveness of the pigment astaxanthin against leukemia and rheumatoid arthritis, at present, this pigment is not accessible as a food supplement due to the need for special chemicals for processing and purification.

In marine algae, the pigment astaxanthin has the role as an effective source of nutrition. In fact, marine algae are being nutritionally starved because of pollutants and overfishing. The only source of energy they have is the carotenoid pigment astaxanthin. This pigment is more concentrated than the other carotenoids. Therefore, it can be carried to the marine microorganisms and used as an energy source.

However, there is no evidence so far that the supplementation of astaxanthin prevents degenerative eye diseases or any vision decline. As of today, we still cannot explain how astaxanthin works in improving healthy vision. However, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that it can be used as a powerful antioxidant in the macular area. Astaxanthin is believed to scavenge the superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes that are responsible for preventing oxygen from reaching the eyes. It is also believed to prevent the damage of ocular tissues by free radicals.

Besides all these, there are other important facts related to astaxanthin benefits in heart health. It has been found out that the antioxidant property of astaxanthin reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cataract. Oxidation of high molecular weight chain molecules like the hemoglobin is prevented by astaxanthin. It can prevent the development of cataracts and macular degeneration. Oxidative stress is a fundamental cause of aging process. It can be countered with the regular consumption of antioxidant rich food.