Learn about the production process
Azora is not just a supplement. It is the result of a controlled biological process, designed to preserve the integrity of astaxanthin from the living cell to the capsule that reaches your hands.
Because quality starts long before the capsule
And this matters for a simple reason: astaxanthin is one of the most powerful natural antioxidant molecules known, but also one of the most sensitive. Light, oxygen and improper storage can compromise its stability over time.
That's why, when it comes to quality, it's not enough to look at the label. You need to know the process.
The origin: Haematococcus pluvialis (São Miguel Azores)
Astaxanthin can come from many sources, but it's the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis which can naturally produce the highest concentrations.
Each cell of this microalgae is, on average, around 17 micrometres in diameter.
For reference: a millimetre divided into a thousand parts corresponds to a micrometre. The cell occupies only about 17 of these parts. It's invisible to the naked eye, but what happens inside this microscopic cell is biologically sophisticated.
At Algicel we work with a strain isolated locally on the island of São Miguel, Azores, selected for its production capacity and resilience in a controlled environment.
- traceability
- control of the biological cycle
- batch-to-batch consistency
Quality starts with biology.
A remarkable biological cycle
The Haematococcus pluvialis has a very particular biological cycle. In the initial phase of its development, the cell is in microzoid form:
- is green
- has flagella
- is mobile
- has a relatively fragile cell wall
Cell growth and multiplication occur during this phase. On average, every 39 hours a cell can give rise to 2, 4 or 8 new cells. This is a phase of biomass expansion.
When the environment changes, the cell adapts
When the microalgae is subjected to controlled stress conditions, such as increased light exposure or nutrient limitation, a biological transformation begins.
- lose the scourges
- no longer mobile
- enters a form called palmeloid
At this stage it activates a natural defence mechanism. It begins to produce astaxanthin. The green colour gradually gives way to red. Astaxanthin accumulates inside the cell and acts as a biological shield against oxidative stress.
It is precisely this natural protective mechanism that makes this molecule so interesting from a biological point of view.
From fragile cell to highly resistant structure
As astaxanthin accumulates, an important structural transformation also takes place. The cell wall becomes progressively thicker and more resistant.
When the cell reaches the fully induced phase, the so-called red phase, it has very high rigidity.
In order to break through this cell wall and release the carotenoid, very high pressures of around 1100 bar must be applied. For reference, this pressure corresponds approximately to that existing at a depth of more than 11,000 metres in the ocean.
What started out as a relatively fragile cell is transformed into a highly protected biological structure.
This biological characteristic directly influences how astaxanthin should be extracted.
The most common mistake: comparing only “mg”
In the supplement market, the comparison is usually made almost exclusively by milligrams.
But there is a second variable that is just as important as the dose, and often more decisive: bioavailability. In other words, the rate of absorption by the body.
Two astaxanthin at the same dose can have very different efficacies because not all the astaxanthin ingested is effectively assimilated.
The three forms of astaxanthin (and why this changes everything)
Powder form
It's the most common form in low-cost products and also the least efficient. Absorption is typically very low, which means that a significant portion may simply not reach where it matters.
Fat-soluble form
It is a form with moderate absorption. It tends to be absorbed mainly in the stomach and depends a lot on the presence of fat in the meal, which makes its effectiveness more variable.
Water-soluble form
It is the most advanced form in terms of absorption. It begins absorption in the stomach and continues along the intestine, allowing a much higher percentage to be assimilated.
This is why, in practice, the water-soluble form is associated with very high bioavailability and, consequently, superior efficacy.
The reality of the market: producer brands vs private labels
Most of the astaxanthin brands available on the market are private labels. This means that the companies do not produce the ingredient, but simply buy raw materials and encapsulate them.
In these cases, the main focus is on cutting costs by outsourcing production at minimum cost, often to the detriment of quality and with dubious origins for the ingredients. These brands are in stark contrast to producer brands, which control the entire manufacturing process and are generally of higher quality.
Azora belongs to this second category. This difference is not visible on the label, but it is structural.
Figure 2 shows that a visual comparison between different astaxanthin products with the same nominal dosage (4 mg) reveals marked differences which prove that not all astaxanthin is the same.
On the left, you can see Azora's water-soluble astaxanthin (produced by Algicel), which has a much more intense red colour, indicating a higher concentration of the active ingredient. Its complete dispersion in water demonstrates its water-soluble nature and, consequently, its high bioavailability.
In the centre, a private label astaxanthin powder highlights two problems: the capsules are not watertight, compromising the stability of the product, and the powder form has very low bioavailability.
On the right, another private label brand with astaxanthin in fat-soluble form shows that the compound does not mix with water, confirming its lipophilic nature. Even more worrying is the fact that the concentration of astaxanthin is practically zero, suggesting degradation of the active ingredient.
This comparison highlights the importance of choosing not only the right form of astaxanthin, but also trusted brands that guarantee the quality, effective concentration and stability of the product over time.
Azora's production process: rigour and integrity at every stage
Azora is produced by a highly qualified team, as part of a rigorous production process designed to preserve quality.
This production process is protected by a patent (Patent No. 105809), reflecting the uniqueness of the method and the level of control applied at each stage.
The key point is this: Azora doesn't just buy generic astaxanthin and encapsulate it, as is the case with most supplements. Every step of the process is carefully controlled, from the cultivation of the microalgae to the final capsule.
Cultivation in closed photobioreactors
The microalgae is cultivated in closed photobioreactors, with strict control of the process parameters. The closed environment allows for consistency and traceability, drastically reducing the risk of external contamination.
Controlled induction (red phase)
When the culture reaches the ideal point, the induction phase begins: exposure to sunlight is increased, the microalgae is deprived of nutrients and the maximum synthesis of astaxanthin is naturally stimulated, protecting the cells against stress.
The microalgae changes from green to red, a clear visual sign that astaxanthin is being accumulated inside the cell.
Biomass harvesting and concentration
After induction, the biomass is separated from the liquid medium by centrifugation, followed by homogenisation and controlled dehydration. The aim is to concentrate the astaxanthin while maintaining the integrity of the content.
Supercritical CO₂ extraction (solvent-free)
Astaxanthin is extracted using supercritical CO₂, an exclusive method that guarantees pharmaceutical quality: highly effective, solvent-free, residue-free and suitable for preserving sensitive natural compounds.
It's a process in line with Azora's philosophy: maximising purity and integrity, with no shortcuts.
Encapsulation in opaque, watertight softgels
Here comes a detail that completely changes the end result: stability over time.
Azora uses softgels with two decisive characteristics: opaque, to protect the astaxanthin from light, and watertight, to protect it from oxygen, preventing progressive degradation.
This guarantees a rare point in the market: concentration remains stable for 36 months.
Azora's true differentiation: 4 pillars
In a market with a huge variety of supplements, real differentiation cannot be based on easy promises, urgency or aggressive marketing. At Azora, differentiation is structural and based on four pillars:
The result is simple to explain: highly effective astaxanthin. Not by promise, but by structure.
What does this mean for those taking Azora?
This means that each capsule:
And it also means something important: the value of the product is in the process. Not in the slogan.
Conclusion
Controlling the process is not a luxury.
It's the only way to guarantee that the astaxanthin produced is the same astaxanthin that reaches the body in a stable and bioavailable form.
Because when we're talking about long-term biological protection, trust isn't built on promises, it's built on consistency.
To delve deeper into this topic
If you want to understand in more detail the criteria that help assess the quality of an astaxanthin supplement, there is a complementary guide dedicated to this topic.