Natural astaxanthin produced from algae can help reduce the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the ailment also known as repetitive stress injury which affects users of computers and cash registers, reports the Hawaii-based group Cyanotech.
An independent, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study of Cyanotech's BioAstin natural astaxanthin product showed that the product helped reduce the severity and the duration of the pain among sufferers of CTS. An earlier study of BioAstin also showed positive results, Cyanotech said, but the most recent clinical trial reflected a marked improvement in the supplement's efficacy at a higher dosage.
Cyanotech was awarded a US patent in July 2001 covering BioAstin natural astaxanthin as a treatment for CTS.
CTS causes a painful, numbing condition of the wrist and hand, and treatment options include physical therapy, wrist braces and surgery.
"This study suggests that BioAstin offers a viable natural alternative for many who suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome," said Gerald Cysewski, CEO of Cyanotech. "We are pleased to see this clinical study affirm the health benefits our customers have reported from the use of BioAstin."
He continued: "We are working with several major dietary supplement companies who currently include, or plan to include, natural astaxanthin in their products. The combination of positive clinical results, patent protection and strong marketing partners follows our strategy of developing proprietary positions in the dietary supplement industry."
Cyanotech claims to be the world's largest commercial producer of natural astaxanthin from microalgae. As well as BioAstin, it also produces NatuRose natural astaxanthin for the aquaculture and animal feed industries, Spirulina Pacifica, a nutrient-rich dietary supplement, and phycobiliproteins, fluorescent pigments used in the immunological diagnostics market.