AstaReal AB is a global pioneer and expert in cultivation of the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, production of products with natural astaxanthin, related R&D and clinical studies. AstaReal AB has its roots in research and development.

The company was formed as a spin-off from a research group at Uppsala University in Sweden - one of the world's most prestigious universities. Inspired by the important role of astaxanthin in nature and the animal kingdom, the research team focused on studying astaxanthin as an active substance for human use and exploring the possibilities of scaling up astaxanthin production for dietary supplement manufacturing. In 1995, AstaReal AB launched the world's first food supplement with natural astaxanthin.

The microalgae are grown indoors under controlled conditions in photobioreactors where light and nutrition are optimized. The algae cultures are harvested when they have reached optimal mass and astaxanthin concentration. The astaxanthin-rich algae paste is then crushed, pasteurized and spray-dried into a fine powder. The powder can be used in food supplements or further processed into other bulk products. Quality is one of the pillars of AstaReal AB, and the company is certified for ISO 9001 and FSSC 22000.

Astaxanthin is a bioactive substance from the carotenoid family that is synthesized almost exclusively by specific microorganisms (algae, yeast, bacteria) and certain marine organisms.

The pigment gives the unique red-orange color to many marine species such as salmon, trout and crustaceans (shrimp, crab and crayfish) and other animals such as flamingos. This fat-soluble phytonutrient likely has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can protect cells against oxidative stress and inflammation if the substance is ingested through the diet.

Astaxanthin is a pure antioxidant, which means that the substance does not cause cell damage at high doses, and it neutralizes free radicals more effectively than other antioxidants. Since humans and animals generally cannot produce carotenoids de novo (own production in the body), astaxanthin must be ingested through the diet.

Note that astaxanthin is not an essential nutrient, but belongs to the group of phytonutrients that can provide additional health benefits if consumed in the diet. The most common source of astaxanthin in nature is the freshwater microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis and it can be found in aquatic environments and freshwater bodies worldwide.

AstaReal has more than 35 years of experience in scientific research and product development and has over 70 human clinical studies in many different health areas in its portfolio. There are also toxicity studies and absorption studies that demonstrate that astaxanthin is safe and effective to use.

Astaxanthin's functional and health-promoting properties have attracted the interest of many researchers and the subject has been well studied since the early 1990s.