Oral Astaxanthin Boosts Levels in Eye

BURLINGTON, N.J.—Fuji Health Science Inc. announced results of a new study, in which ingestion of natural astaxanthin extract (as AstaREAL®) by rabbits was detected in the eye within 24 hours (Atarashii Ganka. 2008;25(10):1461-4). The study was conducted in collaboration between the Ophthalmology Department of Kanazawa Medical University, Japan, and Fuji Chemical Industry, Japan. Researchers investigated the ocular and blood serum levels of astaxanthin in 24 albino rabbits at baseline and through 168 hours after administering a 100 mg/kg single oral dose of natural astaxanthin extract. It reached maximum presence (Tmax) in serum and iris/ciliary body was nine hours (at Cmax 61.3 ng/mL) and 24 hours (at Cmax 79.3), respectively.