What is Natural Astaxanthin?

Give your Immune System It is a naturally occurring

carotenoid which is derived
a Boost with AstaReal® from the microalgae
­Haematococcus pluvialis.
As well as being the most
Benefits of natural astaxanthin powerful antioxidant
known to science, it also
for the immune system has potent anti-inflammatory properties. Natural
astaxanthin´s distinct advantage in comparison to
other antioxidants, is its ability to span the entire lipid
bilayer of the cell membrane, thus providing superior
protection from the inside out. Natural astaxanthin
has a strong ability to both balance and strengthen
the immune system.

Research & Key Findings

Research has shown that natural astaxanthin is
IMMUNE SYSTEM

a potent anti-inflammatory and is particulary

­effective against chronic inflammation. To test its
efficacy, ­scientists have examined the levels of
­pro-­inflammatory markers with and without the
­presence of astaxanthin. In a 2003 model study, Seon
et al. found that astaxanthin significantly decreased
the expression of different pro-inflammatory markers
in Lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation (LPS)
(Figure 1).
18 60

16

Natural astaxanthin possesses ­ 14

12
50

40
PGE2 (ng/ml)

potent anti-inflammatory properties

NOx (µM)

10
30
8

6 20
Inflammation is the body’s biological response to harmful stimuli. Acute 4
10
inflammation is the initial response to such stimuli and in most cases it can be 2

visually identified. The other form of inflammation is “chronic inflammation”; LPS - + - + LPS - + - +
AX - - + + AX - - + +
it is often called the silent killer since there are very few, if any, symptoms of
this type of inflammation. Unlike the acute type, chronic inflammation builds 1.8 500

up in the body as a result of the immune system constantly responding to 1.5

400
threats.
1.2
300

Chronic inflammation is one of the major causes of accelerated 0.9

200
aging and many of its associated diseases such as chronic heart disease, 0.6

arthritis or allergies. It is characterized by the release of cytokines and 0.3

100

­pro-inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor- -α (TNF- -α),

C-reactive protein (CRP) and others. Luckily, we can test for inflammation LPS
AX
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
+
LPS
AX
-
-
+
-
-
+
+
+
by measuring these different biological markers in the blood which will give
LPS=Lipopolysaccharide AX=Astaxanthin
an ­indicatation of ­inflammation levels.
Figure 1.
Natural astaxanthin has been shown to help signficantly decrease the LPS-induced inflammation showing significant decrease in plasma levels
of pro-inflammatory markers NO, PGE2, TNF-α, and IL-1β.
­expression of pro-inflammatory markers and mediators, thus providing a
potent anti-inflammatory protection in the body. Several studies have been In another randomized, double blind placebo control-
conducted to understand the anti-inflammatory mechanism of astaxanthin led study, Park et al. (2010) examined 42 subjects for
and it is thought to be related to the inhibition of the Nf-kB inflammatory the pro-inflammatory marker CRP. The astaxanthin
pathway (5). group supplemented with 2mg/d for 8 weeks showed
that the levels of CRP were significantly reduced
(figure 2).
 250

AstaReal® – The Most Studied Brand

C-reactive protein (ug/dL)

Figure 2.
200
8 weeks of ­supplementation
with 2mg/d natural
150
­astaxanthin significantly
There are over 400 peer-reviewed studies on
­reduced the expression ­astaxanthin and AstaReal® has been featured in the
100 of the pro-inflammatory vast majority of these studies. The clinical ­database
marker C-reactive protein
50 (CRP). for ­AstaReal® contains over 50 human studies
including 23 double-blind, placebo-controlled ­trials
Week 0 Week 4 Week 8 with more than 1,400 participants undergoing
 0 mg/d Astaxanthin  2 mg/d Astaxanthin ­treatments ­lasting from 2 weeks to 6 months.
Enhance Immune Response with Natural Astaxanthin
Superior Product Range
The immune system is made up of a network of cells, tissues and organs that
AstaReal AB offers a range of bulk products to fit
work together to protect the body against infectious microorganisms, such
­different formats, allowing for the ­development
as certain bacteria and viruses; whilst also working to destroy any infectious
of innovative products that add astaxanthin’s
microoganisms that manage to invade the body.
­unsurpassed antioxidant power.
In addition, A
­ staReal AB
Phagocytes are cells that destroy invading organisms, while lymphocytes
has d­ eveloped a range
are cells that allow the body to remember and recognize previous invaders
of finished formulations
and help the body destroy them – the innate immune response.
containing AstaReal®
natural ­astaxanthin,
Natural astaxanthin has shown positive effects and substantial benefit in
each expertly developed
enhancing the capacity of both lymphocytes and phagocytes. The first human
to support a ­number of
study to show this effect was published by Park et al. in 2010. In this double
health areas.
blind, placebo controlled study, 42 individuals received 0 or 8 mg/d astaxan-
thin (AX) vs placebo. Lymphocyte count was significantly increased for the AX
group. In ­addition, those receiving AX demonstrated a significant increase in
the levels of B and T cells (figure 3). References & Selected Publications
400 100 1. Chew,B.P. et al.,2011. Dietary astaxanthin enhances immune
response in dogs. Vet lmmunol and lmmunopathol.
Proliferation T-cells

140 (2011) 199-206.

Proliferation B-cells

300
2. Park, J.S., Chyun, J.H., Kim, Y.K., Line, LL., Chew, B.P., 2010.
Astaxanthin decreased oxidative stress and inflammation and
200 50 enhanced immune response in humans. Nutr. Metab.5, 7-18.
3. Park, J.S., Kim, H.W., Mathison, B.D., Hayek, M.G., Massimino,
100 S., Reinhart, G.A., Chew,B.P., 201Ob. Astaxanthin uptake in
domestic dogs and cats. Nutr. Metab.7, 52-59.
4. Macedo RC et al., Astaxanthi n addition improves human
Week 0 Week 8 0 ­neutrophils function: in vitro study.
Week 0 Week 8
 0 mg/d Astaxanthin  8 mg/d Astaxanthin Eur J Nutr.2010;49:447- 457.
5. Seon-Jin L. et al. 2003. Astaxanthin Inhibits Nitric Oxide
Figure 3.
­Production and Inflammatory Gene Expression by
The effect of astaxanthin on immune response was measured in a double blind, randomized study
­Suppressing IκB Kinase-dependent NF-κB Activation.
­involving 42 subjects. B-cells and T-cells were exposed to high concentrations of mitogens and their
Mol. Cells, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 97-105.
­capacity to proliferate was measured (2). *p<0.05 compared with control.

Benefits of Natural Astaxanthin for the

Immune System:
 Potent anti-inflammatory properties
 Faster immune response
 Strengthens and balances the immune system
 Protects immune cells against oxidative stress

Idrottsvägen 4A, SE-134 40, Gustavsberg, Sweden

Phone +46 (0) 8 5701 3950, Fax +46 (0) 8 5701 3951, Web: www.astareal.se, Email: info@astareal.se
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