Anti-inflammatory

The anti-inflammatory properties of astaxanthin are providing athletes with greater muscle performance and quicker muscle recovery.

Astaxanthin, a component of microalgae, is apparently a "miracle nutrient", according to naturalnews.com. In a recent report, the website compiled data from different studies that highlight several properties of astaxanthin, which include its anti-inflammatory characteristics and its ability to reduce cell damage.

Astaxanthin, in fact, protects mitochondria - the powerhouses of the cell - by absorbing free radicals. Mitochondria are the parts of the cell that convert food to energy using ATP, or adenosine triphosphate. When this occurs, free radicals, or electrons that aren’t attached to anything, can damage mitochondria. Astaxanthin protects against this.

Since it is oxygenated, astaxanthin has greater antioxidant capacity than other carotenoids. The astaxanthin molecule contains the longest conjugated, double-bonded polyene chain of any of the related xanthophylls, with both hydroxyl and carbonyl groups at each end. This configuration provides astaxanthin’s great antioxidant capacity and the incorporation of free radicals into its polyene chain, thus effectively trapping free radicals. This also enhances the free radical scavenging capacity of other antioxidants, such as Vitamins C and E. While other carotenoids and antioxidants may perform one or two of these functions, astaxanthin does them all, and in most cases, does them better. In addition to trapping free radicals, astaxanthin also de-charges singlet and triplet oxygen, thus providing its anti-inflammatory properties.