Today’s pet owners are on the lookout for natural, health-promoting ingredients in their pets’ diets. Astaxanthin, a carotenoid known for its antioxidant properties and natural reddish pigmentation, offers a practical solution. It supports pet wellbeing while aligning with the growing interest in pure, clean-label and sustainable nutritional options.
Scientific Affairs Manager
AstaReal Sweden
The pet food industry has seen a remarkable shift in recent years, with the increasing humanisation of pets reflected in their owners’ desire for healthy animal dishes. As a result, the sector is witnessing growing demand for premium, functional foods that are also “natural” and “clean label”. Moreover, sustainability concerns in the pet food segment are driving sales of plant-based and eco-friendly products.
As brands seek to capitalise on this momentum, the range of pet foods promising an array of health benefits is growing exponentially. In this burgeoning market, it is crucial to educate and enable pet owners to better identify the products that best support the health of both pets and the planet.
ANTIOXIDANTS AS A HOLISTIC APPROACH
While core ingredients often support one specific health area, for instance, gut wellbeing, antioxidants allow for a more holistic approach. Their ability to fight free radicals makes them a versatile ingredient for a range of health benefits. Natural astaxanthin is increasingly recognised as a highly potent antioxidant, with a free radical quenching capacity 110 times higher than that of vitamin E.
Various studies have found that astaxanthin has beneficial effects for different kinds of animals, including livestock, aquaculture, horses, cats and dogs. Research indicates that astaxanthin can support not only canine mobility, endurance and muscle recovery, but also the cardiovascular system, cognitive function, attentiveness and, at a cellular level, the mitochondria.1,2,3 Moreover, natural astaxanthin supplementation in dogs and cats could enhance their innate defence systems and improve both cell-mediated and humoral immune responses.4,5 Astaxanthin also has shown potential to improve impaired vision due to age-related conditions, such as cloudy lenses in dogs.6
Due to its unique molecular structure, natural astaxanthin can penetrate and traverse the bilayer of biological membranes and neutralise reactive oxygen species (ROS) in both the hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers, protecting cells and their powerhouses, the mitochondria, against oxidative stress. Unlike many other antioxidants such as β-carotene and lycopene, astaxanthin has no pro-oxidant properties, and is known as a “pure antioxidant”.
ADDED SENSORY APPEAL
Astaxanthin not only promises beneficial health effects but also contributes to the appeal of pet food. Colour is an important factor in pet food purchasing, with most pet owners associating vibrant and natural-looking hues with freshness and overall product quality.
Traditionally, artificial and nature-identical colours have been used to compensate for the loss of colour during pet food manufacturing processes. However, the use of artificial colourants in pet food formulations and their possible long-term impact on health have led to growing concerns among pet parents. They like their pet’s meals to come in natural, bright and appealing colours that align with the anticipated flavours. This means that they expect a product containing spinach to be green, for example, or one containing beef to have an authentic reddish-brown appearance. Even though their furry friends may not mind and have a more limited colour spectrum than humans, pet food producers are encouraged to still respect the pet owners’ concerns and consider their preferences. Today, successful brands are emphasizing the health-promoting properties of every single ingredient in their formulations, including the colour sources. Furthermore, they endeavour to create the desired sensory profile through the use of natural and functional ingredients.
SEARCH FOR NATURAL COLOURS
As a red carotenoid, astaxanthin imparts its colour to many crustacea and fish such as salmon and trout. In fact, its original industrial purpose was in aquaculture, where it was used to support the pigmentation of salmon – which also led to the systematic research into its health benefits. Today, astaxanthin is still a common component of aquaculture, both in its synthetic and natural versions. However, growing concerns about the safety and environmental impact of artificial additives, as well as health concerns surrounding the use of synthetic ingredients, are further driving demand for astaxanthin of natural origin. The natural astaxanthin application is no longer limited to aquaculture and fish pigmentation. Over the past decade and with increasing scientific evidence supporting its wide range of health benefits in various animal groups, natural astaxanthin is being incorporated into a growing number of animal feed and pet food formulations.
CONVENIENT FORMATS BACKED BY SCIENCE ARE TRENDING
As well as seeking natural, wholesome products, pet owners also want maximum convenience. They prefer easy-to-use formats such as kibbles and treats with nutritional value, meal toppers and chewables. In line with market trends, Ark Naturals, a brand by pet care company Antelope, has recently launched evidence-based, oral health-promoting dog chews in distinctive red colour originating from AstaReal® Astaxanthin. In their study with beagles, the chews were shown to significantly improve oral health by reducing plaque and tartar, while promoting beneficial bacteria and reducing harmful bacteria in the mouth, thus supporting overall dental hygiene.
SUSTAINABLE SOURCING WITH ALGAE
Mindful of the planet’s finite natural resources, AstaReal derives its astaxanthin from microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis – the most abundant source in nature. Algae play an essential role in our ecosystem and are recognised as a renewable resource and, unlike most conventional crops, require less energy, land, and nutrients, while eliminating the need for pesticides and herbicides. If algae are cultivated indoors, as is the case with AstaReal, they can be better protected from environmental harm and contamination, with the yield of astaxanthin-rich algal biomass boasting a higher quality profile.
Thus, algae-derived astaxanthin not only contributes to a naturally-enhanced product profile and supports the health of our beloved pets, but also the future of the planet – all of which is food for thought for pet food manufacturers looking to tap into this lucrative and burgeoning segment.
References
1Zanghi BM, Middleton RP, Reynolds AJ, Effects of postexercise feeding of a supplemental carbohydrate and protein bar with or without astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis to exercise-conditioned dogs. Am J Vet Res. 2015 April;76(4):338-50.
2Murai T, Kawasumi K, Tominaga K, Okada Y, Kobayashi M, Arai T, Effects of astaxanthin supplementation in healthy and obese dogs. Vet Med. 2019 Feb;10:29-35.
3Park JS, Mathison BD, Hayek MG, Zhang J, Reinhart GA, Chew BP, Astaxanthin modulates age-associated mitochondrial dysfunction in healthy dogs. J Anim Sci. 2013 Jan;91(1):268-75.
4Chew BP, Mathison DB, Hayek MG, Massimino S, Reinhart GA, Park JS, Dietary astaxanthin enhances immune response in dogs. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2011 Apr;140(3–4):199-206.
5Park JS, Mathison BD, Hayek MG, Massimino S, Reinhart GA, Chew BP, Astaxanthin stimulates cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in cats. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2011 Dec;144(3–4):455-61.
6Wang W, Hernandez J, Moore C, Jackson J, Narfström K, Antioxidant supplementation increases retinal responses and decreases refractive error changes in dogs. J Nutr Sci. 2016 May;5(E18).
