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Summary Effects of astaxanthin (AX) derived from H. pluvialis on human blood rheology were investigated in 20 adult men with a single-blind method. The experimental group was 57.5 ± 9.8 years of age and the placebo group was 50.8 ± 13.1 years of age. A blood rheology test that measures whole blood transit time was conducted using heparinized blood of the volunteers by a MC-FAN apparatus (microchannel array flow analyzer). After administration of AX 6 mg/day for 10 days, the values of the experimental group were decreased from 52.8 ± 4.9 s to 47.6 ± 4.2 s (p<0.01) and a comparison of the values between the experimental (47.6 ± 4.2 s) and the placebo (54.2 ± 6.7 s) groups showed a significant difference (p<0.05). There were no adverse effects resulting from the administration of AX 6 mg/day for 10 days. Informed consent was obtained from each subject.

Results suggest that administration of AXT over a 4-week period can elevate the choroidal blood flow velocity without any adverse effects.

Reaction pathways of NOX and N2O over CaO under carbonator conditions of the calcium-looping (CaL) process were investigated using a laboratory-scale fluidized bed with calcined limestone (CaO) and inert quartz sand as bed materials. Char particles were fed to the fluidized bed to simulate char transportation to the carbonator. With char feed to the sand bed, slight reduction of NO and N 2O in the feed gas was observed, but considerable CO formation was observed. When NO was fed to the CaO bed, NO was first adsorbed onto the CaO surface. The adsorbed NO was desorbed when char or gaseous CO 2 was fed. Although char feed to the CaO bed decreased NO slightly, the reduction of NO was nearly equal to that in the sand bed. This reduction of NO with char feed was attributable solely to NO reduction by the char. The formation of CO from char oxidation for CaO bed was much less than that for the sand bed. These results suggest that CO was oxidized over CaO before it reduced NO. For N2O decomposition, the CaO bed had high catalytic activity. CaL process is expected as a multifunctional process of CO2 capture and N2O decomposition with low CO emissions.

No abstract

An exploratory open-label human clinical study was performed in healthy adults with shoulder stiffness to evaluate the efficacy of Astaxanthin by means of measuring blood flow change in the shoulders and subjective questionnaires on physical conditions, including alleviation of stiffness before and after treatment. Two capsules containing 3 mg Astaxanthin each (6 mg in total) were administered once daily (6 mg a day) on days 1 to 28 (4 weeks) to 13 patients (3 men/10 women). All patients were assessed for efficacy and the study demonstrated significant improvements in physical conditions such as shoulder stiffness, physical fatigue, sense of mental irritation, sense of coldness in hands and feet, eye fatigue and eye bleariness. Significant increases of blood flow in shoulders were observed at the end of treatment using laser-doppler graphics. Blood tests conducted to confirm safety before and at the end of treatment showed no clinical differences, and no adverse side effects were reported. In conclusion, Astaxanthin appeared to safely alleviate stiff shoulders and improve other physical conditions during a 4-week open-label study.

Objectives: To study the effect of astaxanthin contained drink to skin condition Methods: The study was conducted to the Japanese females between age over thirty to less than fifty, who had weakening of skin (including aging, sag and dry skin) and skin dullness. In order to conduct the objective evaluation, the comparison between the groups by the double-blind test was taken. Twenty of subjects were randomly allocated to the intake group of astaxanthin contained drink (astaxanthin 3mg contained) and the placebo group. After eight weeks intake of the drink, each group was evaluated with skin water contents, transepidermal water loss, skin elasticity, VISIA and skin texture etc. Results: In between the groups, the intake group of astaxanthin contained drink was greatly excellent in the categories of skin moisture, transepidermal water loss, skin elasticity, erythema dose and skin texture. Conclusion: Astaxanthin has protecting effect of skin barrier and is considered to increase the water retention capability to reduce skin dryness. Astaxanthin is also effective to erythema dose, skin elasticity and skin texture. As no adverse events resulting from the test drink was seen, such food containing astaxanthin is considered as a safe and useful health functional food material to skin.

School of Medical Science Astaxanthin, a red carotenoid, has been known to possess excellent antioxidant activity and various biological activities, thereby attracting attention as a functional food material. The safety of astaxanthin administered orally has been demonstrated in human clinical studies for about ten years. In this review, we summarized the clinical studies related to safety, as well as studies on genotoxicity, and acute and subchronic toxicity, with a focus on AstaREAL, an astaxanthin product derived from Haematococcus pluvialis which has been reported in numerous human clinical studies to be safe and to have multiple health benefits. Furthermore, based on the latest research, we reviewed the effect of astaxanthin on drug-metabolizing enzymes involved in drug interactions, and concluded that the safety of H. pluvialis-derived astaxanthin, AstaREAL has been widely confirmed.