What are Carotenoids?

Carotenoids are naturally occurring organic pigments that are responsible for the distinct bright colours of many fruits and vegetables. Some of the more commonly encountered dietary carotenoids are ß-carotene, lycopene, lutein and astaxanthin.

In addition to their role as plant pigments, carotenoids, for example, ß-carotene and lycopene, have been associated with health benefits in humans and animals, particularly in supporting the immune system.

Avivagen’s founding scientists made the landmark discovery that many of these health benefits result not from the direct activity of the carotenoids themselves in the body, but rather from the activities of compounds produced when carotenoids, such as ß-carotene and lycopene, are broken down by natural processes.

The active carotenoid breakdown compounds can form either outside the body, or inside the body through the metabolic processing of the carotenoid. Both are naturally occurring processes that produce a myriad of breakdown compounds with diverse chemical characteristics. These carotenoid breakdown products are abundantly present in nature, for example, as contributors to the fragrance of flowers and to the formation of the protective, outer wall of pollen grains.

Why Carotenoid Blend?

Avivagen scientists realized early on that the diversity in the chemical and structural nature of the carotenoid breakdown compounds was key to their health benefits. Each compound within the mixture has the potential to interact and affect different pathways in the body. Through their combined activities, carotenoid breakdown compounds are able to have an overall health-promoting effect.

Recognizing the vital role that the chemical diversity of the carotenoid breakdown products played, the Avivagen team set out to develop a product that would capture this diversity by combining different carotenoids in a formulation known as carotenoid blend. The formulation is intended to provide for the generation of a multitude of beneficial breakdown compounds in the body after the product has been consumed. As a result of this work Avivagen has been able to capture in Vivamune Health Chews the healthy essence of carotenoids.

Nature has pointed the way and the application of science has allowed us to understand and harness the benefits, all in a little health chew!