Your body makes antioxidants of its own – just not always as many as the day asks for
The mid-size jar: 150 softgel capsules holding astaxanthin from the microalga, dissolved in extra virgin olive oil.
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A molecule with two preferences
Both ends of the astaxanthin molecule like water, the long middle section likes fat. That is why it lies across the cell membrane instead of merely sitting in its fatty core.
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Vitamin E in its natural form
Vitamin E contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. What goes in is D-alpha-tocopherol, not the synthetic blend of eight forms.
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Five months in one jar
150 capsules, one a day. The size for anyone who finds the small jar runs out too quickly and a year's supply is too much.
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Nothing in it that doesn't belong
No colourings, no sweeteners, no preservatives, no magnesium stearate. Not irradiated, made without genetic engineering.
The body is not defenceless against free radicals. Enzymes such as superoxide dismutase work around the clock, and whatever arrives on the plate adds to that. This supply fluctuates though – with age, with diet, with whatever a given week demands. That is the point at which many people reach for carotenoids.
Haematococcus pluvialis lives in puddles and rock hollows that dry out regularly. When conditions turn hard, the cell withdraws into a resting form and packs in astaxanthin until it glows deep red – the pigment is its coat for the dry spell. It is exactly this red phase that gets harvested. Supercritical carbon dioxide then releases the pigment from the tough cell wall, with no chemical solvents involved.
Behind the formulation stands Ivarsson's Produkte fürs Leben in Schriesheim, Germany. The company offers VitalAstin in three jar sizes with identical contents – 60, 150 and 300 capsules. The algal pigment has been authorised as a food ingredient in the EU since 2007 and has been reviewed several times by the European Food Safety Authority since.
📊 VitalAstin by the numbers
4 mg
natural astaxanthin per capsule
124 %
of the reference intake for vitamin E per capsule
65 g
net quantity per jar
3.1 kcal
energy per capsule
📋 Recommended intake
Take 1 capsule per day with liquid.
Nutritional information per daily dose (1 softgel capsule)
| Nutrient |
Amount |
| Energy |
13.1 kJ / 3.1 kcal |
| Fat |
277 mg |
| – of which saturates |
35 mg |
| Carbohydrate |
37 mg |
| – of which sugars |
0 mg |
| Protein |
94 mg |
| Salt |
0 mg |
| Astaxanthin |
4 mg |
| Vitamin E |
14.9 mg (124 % NRV) |
Trade name: VitalAstin – food supplement with vitamin E, 150 softgel capsules
Ingredients: Extra virgin olive oil, gelatine (bovine), Haematococcus pluvialis extract (astaxanthin), glycerol (humectant), natural vitamin E (D-alpha-tocopherol), water
Net quantity: 65 g (150 softgel capsules)
Why is astaxanthin almost always sold in a softgel?
Carotenoids react sensitively to light, warmth and oxygen – precisely the three things waiting for them on a shelf. The thick-walled softgel shields the contents, the olive oil encloses them, and the vitamin E intercepts oxygen before it reaches the pigment. Three protective layers, then, without a single preservative. That is why astaxanthin is offered almost exclusively as a gel capsule and hardly ever as a powder or tablet.
How does the body take astaxanthin up?
The route matches that of other fat-soluble pigments. In the small intestine astaxanthin travels into micelles together with dietary fats, is taken up by the gut cells and packed into transport particles. Via the lymph it reaches the bloodstream, where it moves around bound to lipoproteins. Without fat in the vicinity that route works poorly – which is why the extract sits in olive oil from the outset.
⚠️ Mandatory information: Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied diet. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose.
📦 Storage: Store cool, dry and out of the reach of children.
💬 Frequently asked questions
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150 or 300 capsules – which jar fits?+
The contents are the same in both jars, only the quantity differs. 150 capsules cover five months. Anyone planning to keep going for longer pays less per day with the 300-capsule jar. There is also a 60-capsule pack to start with.
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Is the capsule suitable for vegans?+
No. The shell is made from bovine gelatine, so the capsule is neither vegan nor vegetarian. The contents, by contrast, are entirely plant-based. An animal-free alternative with the same amount of astaxanthin is the lozenge linked below.
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Is astaxanthin found in food as well?+
Yes, it is what turns salmon, trout, prawns and krill pink to red. Those animals pick it up from algae and small crustaceans. The amounts in the flesh range from fractions of a milligram to a few milligrams per 100 grams and vary widely by species and farming method.
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Why 4 mg and not more?+
4 mg is where most people start. In 2020 the European Food Safety Authority derived an acceptable daily intake of 0.2 mg per kilogram of body weight – for someone weighing 60 kilograms that is 12 mg a day. One capsule stays well below it. Higher-dosed products with 8 or 12 mg exist as well – they are aimed at different audiences.
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How do I store an opened jar?+
Cool, dry and out of the reach of children. In practice that means closing the lid firmly after every capsule, because humidity is the enemy of a gelatine shell. And a windowsill above a radiator is the worst spot the jar could find.
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Capsule or lozenge – which one?+
The amount of astaxanthin is identical. The capsule is swallowed with liquid. The lozenge dissolves in the mouth without water, is vegan and sugar-free, and adds green tea extract plus vitamin B12.
Goes well with this
Responsible Person (GPSR, EU 2023/988) & manufacturer: Ivarsson's Produkte fürs Leben Ltd. & Co. KG · Sophienstraße 31 · 69198 Schriesheim · Germany · info@esovita.de
