Canthaxanthin
Canthaxanthin is another phytonutrient in the large group of carotenoids. It cannot be changed to Vitamin A in the body as beta-carotene can, however like most of the carotenoids it is still a powerful antioxidant. This phytonutrient was first discovered in yellowish orange Chanterelle mushrooms. It is also found in some algae and bacteria. Fish and crustaceans with a red color also contain canthaxanthin, as well as flamingos, the scarlet ibis and other birds and insects.
Cantaxanthin is approved in the United States for use as a food coloring, in small quantities. In nature, canthaxanthin provides the red color for many fruits, vegetables and flowers. As a food coloring it is used for this same purpose in foods like fruit drinks and sauces. Some of the names used in the food industry for this coloring are canthaxanthine, carophyll red, CI food orange 8, colour index no. 40850, E161 and roxanthin red 10. Canthaxanthin is added to feed for farm-raised salmon to turn the skin a pink color, and to poultry feed to make skin and eggs more yellow. In Britain, canthaxanthin is only permitted as a food coloring in Saucisses de Strasbourg, a type of sausage, however it is used in animal feeds throughout Europe.
A study with rats published in the Journal of Nutrition in 1991 showed that cantaxanthin in the diet lowers the effectiveness of certain other nutrients like vitamin E and iron. This is part of a web of interaction between nutrients, with vitamin A also having similar effects.
Canthaxanthin is an ingredient in some "sunless" tanning products. They contain large amounts of this colorant which are deposited in the body, including in the skin. This turns the skin either an orange color or a golden brown. Canthaxanthin is not approved by the FDA for this purpose and in this quantity. In fact, there are a number of health problems associated with taking this much canthaxanthin. These include retinopathy, or deposits of crystals in the retina of the eye, urticaria, which is severe itching and welts, and aplastic anemia.
Canthaxanthin is not all bad, and may have some health benefits. A study published in Carcinogenesis in 1998 showed that canthaxanthin inhibited the growth of melanoma and colon cancer cells in cell lines of human origin, and induced apoptosis in the cancer cells.
Canthaxanthin is sometimes prescribed for patients who have medication-induced photosensitivity, or another genetic disease called erythropoietic protoporphyria which causes sensitivity to light. The antioxidant powers of this chemical help to make skin resistance to ultraviolet light, and the dosage required to treat these conditions is less than that used in the tanning pills mentioned above, so there is less danger of side effects. In spite of the fact that they are not legal, at least in the US, it seems easy enough to find tanning pills containing canthaxanthin online. You can also find a product with canthaxanthin to put in bird food, which intensifies their red color. Supplements of this phytonutrient should be used with caution as there are health risks associated with taking large doses.
The information on this page is not meant to be used in treatment of medical conditions. Please seek the advice of a physician about any medical condition or symptom. Those with medical conditions should consult a medical professional about the appropriateness of taking dietary supplements or diet therapy, and how these methods will interact with their medications.