Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is a red ketocarotenoid, 3,3'-dihydroxy-β,β-carotene-4,4'-dione, CAS 472-61-7, formula C40H52O4 and molecular weight 596.84 g/mol. Unlike β-carotene it carries a hydroxyl and a keto group on each terminal ring, which is why it has no provitamin A activity and why it is classified as a colouring matter rather than a vitamin. Thovek supplies material derived from the freshwater green microalga Haematococcus pluvialis, harvested at the red cyst stage and extracted from cracked biomass. Algal astaxanthin is predominantly the (3S,3'S) stereoisomer and is largely esterified in the cell: roughly 70% monoesters, 25% diesters and about 5% free astaxanthin, the ester acids being mainly palmitic, oleic and linoleic. Chemically synthesised astaxanthin is a different article entirely, a racemate of approximately 1:2:1 (3S,3'S) : (3R,3'S) : (3R,3'R), and is used as a feed pigment rather than as a food-supplement ingredient. We offer the oleoresin at 5% and 10% total astaxanthin in a carrier oil, cold-water-dispersible beadlet powders at 1.5% to 5%, and finished softgels filled at 4, 8 or 12 mg of astaxanthin. Assay is by HPLC against an all-trans astaxanthin reference with UV-Vis confirmation near 477 nm. The molecule is a conjugated polyene and degrades on exposure to oxygen, light and heat, so all packs are nitrogen-flushed and light-proof and every batch ships with a certificate of analysis covering assay, isomer and ester profile, heavy metals, residual solvents, pesticide residues and microbiology. Astaxanthin carries the colour index E161j. In the European Union the astaxanthin-rich oleoresin from Haematococcus pluvialis is an authorised novel food; EFSA's 2020 opinion derived an ADI of 0.034 mg/kg body weight and concluded that 8 mg per day of astaxanthin is safe for adults and adolescents over 14, with authorised oleoresin levels of 40-80 mg per day delivering no more than 8.0 mg astaxanthin. Formulators should design dose to the destination market's own limits. On origin and allergens, the oleoresin and beadlet grades are algal and therefore suitable for vegan and vegetarian labelling. This matters commercially because astaxanthin is also extracted from krill and shrimp shell, and buyers frequently assume a crustacean allergen. Our material is not crustacean-derived and needs no crustacean declaration. The oleoresin and beadlet grades are free from milk, egg, fish, gluten and tree nuts; the only soy exposure is where mixed tocopherols are used as the stabilising antioxidant, so specify a non-soy antioxidant if soy must be excluded. Softgel shells are bovine or fish gelatin as standard and lose the vegan claim, so ask for a starch-carrageenan vegetarian shell where that claim is required. Kosher, Halal, non-GMO and vegan declarations are issued on request.