After a competitive analysis, we found that only 10% of all certified Chinese samples contained 100% astaxanthin. The rest was synthetic or simply red dye.
Watch episode 4 of the second season of The Cosmetics Conspiracy: The Podcast. Why purity in supplements is so important, and how the best kind of astaxanthin comes straight from Antwerp. Dr. Barbara Geusens talks with Jonas De Cooman, CEO of Axabio , about how he guarantees the quality of the antioxidants he produces.
We started with Japanese microalgae, followed by a variety from Sweden. But surprisingly, the Haematococcus pluvialis we isolated from the roof of our own office in Antwerp turned out to be the absolute winner after testing.
"Astaxanthin works both inside and outside the cell"
The unique thing about astaxanthin lies in its molecular structure: a nonpolar center with polar heads on both sides. These heads capture free radicals, and the nonpolar portion is exactly the same length as a cell membrane. This allows the molecule to nestle perfectly within the membrane structure, resulting in antioxidant activity on both sides of the cell. This distinguishes astaxanthin from other antioxidants, which are usually only active on one side. It truly works intracellularly.
