Astavita gears astaxanthin to sports nutrition

The company yesterday announced the signing of a two-year sponsorship agreement with USA Triathlon (USAT), the national governing body for triathlon and duathlon.

Astaxanthin has been linked to a number of health indications including eye health, skin health and immune disorders, but Astavita says its sports nutrition applications could span even further.

For sports nutrition, the company claims astaxanthin shows promise for improving endurance and reducing muscle damage.

Astavita said its parent company, Japanese-based Fuji Chemical Industry Company, has done extensive research on the effectiveness of astaxanthin with endurance athletes. It said results suggest athletes could enhance their competitive level and state of readiness.

In addition, Astavita holds a patent for increased physical endurance and reduced muscle damage.

Astaxanthin is produced by the Haematacoccus pluvialis algae when water supplies in its habitat dry up to protect itself against the effects of UV radiation. Research has shown it to have a similar structure to lutein and zeaxanthin, but there are indications that it has an even stronger antioxidant activity.

The company's deal with USAT should garner them more visibility in the sports nutrition segment.

According to Datamonitor, the sports nutrition industry continues to grow. Between 2000 and 2005, consumer spending on sport food and beverages in the US grew by 6.7 percent to $3.1bn. Over the same time period, spending on sports supplements grew 2.3 percent, to reach $621m.