How does Astaxanthin work in the body?
After ingestion, Astaxanthin is absorbed by the duodenal mucosa and transported to the liver where it binds with a lipoprotein for transport through the body to the cells. The polar end groups attach to the outer and inner side of the cell membrane, where free radical attack first occurs. The hydroxy and carbonyl groups in astaxanthin help to anchor this molecule to the cell membrane, thus strengthening it. Astaxanthin is an oxygenated carotenoid called a xanthophyll. Because it is oxygenated, a xanthophyll has greater antioxidant capacity than many other carotenoids. Within the xanthophylls, the astaxanthin molecule contains the longest conjugated, double-bond polyene chain along with both hydroxy and carbonyl groups at each end. This configuration supports the greatest antioxidant capacity, its peroxyl radical chain-breaking abilities, its incorporation of free radicals into its polyene chain (thereby more effectively trapping them), and its enhancement of Vitamin C as an antioxidant
