Category: Carotenoids

Astaxanthin is a natural pigment found in microorganisms and marine animals. While known for its powerful antioxidant properties, it is also referred to by a number of other names depending on its origin, chemical structure, and commercial application.

Over 600 different carotenoids exist in nature, but many people often confuse beta-carotene with lycopene. While both are potent antioxidants found in colorful fruits and vegetables, they are not the same and have unique properties. This article clarifies the distinctions between these two important phytonutrients.

Capsanthin is a key carotenoid that contributes to the rich red color in many plants, and is known for its potent antioxidant properties. Surprisingly, it's not present in green peppers, only accumulating as the fruit ripens and turns red. This guide explores which specific foods contain capsanthin and how you can incorporate them into your diet.

Lycopene, a potent antioxidant, is a bright red carotenoid pigment responsible for the vibrant color of ripe tomatoes and other red fruits. In its isolated, pure form, lycopene typically appears as a deep red solid or crystalline substance.

Lycopene is the most abundant carotenoid found in the human body, but it is known by several other chemical names. This natural antioxidant pigment, which gives tomatoes and other red fruits their color, is also scientifically referred to as all-trans-lycopene and psi-psi-carotene.

Scientific studies reveal that the body cannot produce zeaxanthin, making it an essential nutrient derived solely from external sources like plants, bacteria, and algae. This essential dietary component is crucial for protecting eye health, but many are unaware of what is zeaxanthin made of and how it is synthesized before reaching our dinner plates or supplement bottles.

While many people assume lycopene is a single compound, research shows it actually exists in several different forms known as isomers. The most common variations are the trans-lycopene and cis-lycopene forms, which possess distinct molecular shapes and physiological effects in the human body.

Over 50 of the 750+ known carotenoids have provitamin A activity, but only a few are efficiently converted to retinol by the human body. This process is vital for producing the active form of vitamin A, a nutrient essential for vision, immune function, and cellular growth.

Salmon's vibrant pink color is a visual indicator of its nutritional profile, but contrary to common assumptions, the answer to "Is beta-carotene in salmon?" is no. Instead, this signature hue comes from a powerful antioxidant called astaxanthin, which salmon acquire through their diet of crustaceans.

Over 700 carotenoids exist in nature, and only about 20 to 30 of them enter the human bloodstream. Within this group, zeaxanthin is indeed a carotenoid, belonging to the xanthophyll subclass of pigments, which are widely found in plants, fruits, and vegetables. Its classification as a carotenoid is foundational to understanding its function as an antioxidant in the body.