Astaxanthin is the King of all Carotenoids. Carotenoids are a group of plant pigments responsible for all life on this planet.

As an antioxidant, they serve a vital role in protecting plants during the process of photosynthesis. Without this protection, plant cells would be destroyed as they convert the sun’s energy into chemical forms.

Astaxanthin is known as the ‘King of Carotenoids’. It is given this title because of its unique benefits and action in promoting health and protecting against cellular damage, especially in the brain and vascular system. In regards to general antioxidant effects in protecting cells, astaxanthin is more than 50 times more powerful than beta-carotene.

There is also another big advantage for astaxanthin that relates to its size and how it fits into cell membranes, it is considerably larger/longer than other popular carotenoids. Its size and physical form allow it to be incorporated into cell membranes where it is able to span the entire thickness of the cell membrane. This allows astaxanthin to not only protect the inner and outer cell membrane from oxidative damage, but also to stabilize the cell membranes. No other carotenoids can produce this effect and that explains why the health benefits of astaxanthin are considerably greater than other carotenoids.

Some carotenoids, like beta-carotene, are best known for their capacity for being converted into vitamin A. In the past, the biological effects of carotenoids have been based on their corresponding vitamin A activity.

However, considerable research now shows that many of the non-vitamin A carotenoids exhibit far greater health benefits. Examples include lycopene (found in tomatoes and watermelon), and lutein and zeaxanthin (peppers, squash and corn), but the most beneficial carotenoid of them all is astaxanthin.