Astaxanthin is a red pigment that exists in many natural organisms. Natural astaxanthin is mainly found in marine organisms which are different from chlorophyll and β-carotene in terrestrial plants. It is a form of microalgae that is consumed by many different types of aquatic organisms. Astaxanthin’s strong red pigmentation causes these animals to have red or pink flesh or shells.
Red salmon found in the wild Pacific Ocean is one of the highest concentrations of natural astaxanthin, except for H. Pluvialis. This pigment gives the fish's meat an iconic deep red and incredibly healthy antioxidant properties. Other natural sources of astaxanthin include lobster, Arctic shrimp, crab, crayfish, red trout, algae and krill. Red birds usually get their color by eating fish and plants rich in astaxanthin, but their pigment concentrations are usually low.
Although marine life is the most common source of natural astaxanthin, it is not limited to water-based plants and animals. For example, a yeast called Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous (Phaffia yeast) also contains relatively high levels of astaxanthin. It is a producer of astaxanthin. It will not absorb it from other organic sources.
