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[Author's Note:] This page will move. 2006/10/10

Astaxanthin/Notes

GOOGLE SEARCH
http://www.google.com/search?q=salmon+synthetic++astaxanthin&start=0&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official

http://algatech.com/astax.htm Today, essentially all commercial ASTAXANTHIN for aquaculture is produced synthetically from petrochemical sources, with an annual turnover of over $200 million
SEE:NATURAL vs. SYNTHETIC ASTAXANTHIN

http://www.astaxanthin.org/astax.htm In commercial fish and crustacean farms, astaxanthin is commonly added to feeds in order to make up for the lack of a natural dietary source of the pigment (Torrissen et al. 1989). Not only does astaxanthin provide for pigmentation in these farmed animals, it also has been found to be essential for their
http://www.astaxanthin.org/wellness.htm proper growth and survival (Torrissen and Christiansen 1995).

http://www.astaxanthin.org/humansafety.htm Astaxanthin levels in the flesh of farm-raised Atlantic salmon range from about 4 to 10 mg/kg, whereas levels in wild Pacific salmon can be much higher with a recent FDA study reporting an average of about 14 mg/kg in coho salmon and about 40 mg/kg in sockeye salmon (Turujman et al. 1997).

http://www.motherlindas.com/is_something_fishy_going_on.htm Swiss chemical giant Hoffman La Roche synthetically produces canthaxanthin and an astaxanthin called Carophyll Pink from petrochemicals and provides customers with its SalmoFan--much like an artist's color wheel but in various shades of pink--to help salmon farmers and buyers create and/or order a color that sells well.

Orthodox Union Kosher Salmon Colored With Astaxanthin Seem to accept even the synthetic astaxanthin.

Significant results from PubMed search for astaxanthin; limit:reviews.

Haematococcus astaxanthin: applications for human health and nutrition. Astaxanthin is a strong coloring agent and a potent antioxidant - its strong antioxidant activity points to its potential to target several health conditions. This article covers the antioxidant, UV-light protection, anti-inflammatory and other properties of astaxanthin and its possible role in many human health problems.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12727382&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Antioxidant agents in raw materials and processed foods. Many food raw materials contain natural antioxidants which exert control of oxidative processes in the living cells. Among antioxidative agents are found enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glucose oxidase-catalase. Among naturally occurring non-enzymic antioxidants are carotenoids, especially astaxanthin (e.g. in fish), tocopherols in oils and other phenolic compounds in plant material. Enzymic antioxidants are mostly inactivated in food processing but the non-enzymic ones can be active also in heat-treated food and might also be active after consumption of the food, as is claimed with beta-carotene, and vitamins A and E. Vitamin C is a generally reducing substance which acts synergistically with other antioxidants.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=8660397&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Astaxanthin: a review of its chemistry and applications
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16431409&itool=iconabstr&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_DocSum

Significant results from FDA search for astaxanthin

1993 the FDA notices astaxanthin.
FDA:FDA Consumer magazine Is Something Fishy Going On? September 1993
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/CONSUMER/CON00251.html

FDA: WARNING LETTER to
Advantage Nutraceuticals, LLC
906 Skipper Avenue
Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32547
http://www.fda.gov/foi/warning_letters/g5271d.htm

Government Reports