Oxidative stress is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species and the ability of the human body to counteract their harmful effects through neutralization by antioxidants. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), including free radicals and singlet oxygen are produced both in the body and by external environmental factors. Once it enters body’s cells, these highly reactive species present in the nucleus and in the cells’ membranes are capable of directly damaging the cell's DNA, lipids and proteins. This cellular damage by oxidative stress is the major cause of many health conditions, including atherosclerosis, all inflammatory conditions, aging process, diabetes, cancer and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The most effective way to protect the body against oxidative stress –and hence promote healthy ageing – is the intake of dietary antioxidants. NextFerm is an Israeli food-tech company founded in 2013 with the goal to provide the market with the most efficient anti-oxidant naturally available, Astaxanthin, to reduce the negative effects of oxidative stress and promote health and wellbeing. NextFerm’s AstaFerm™ is a natural ingredient for dietary supplement to reduce oxidative stress and enable anti-inflammation relief. AstaFerm™ is composed of an Astaxanthin-rich extract derived from the fermented biomass of the Phaffia rhodozyma yeast strain. AstaFerm™ is capable of 40% higher oxidative stress resistance than algae counterparts. AstaFerm™ increased purity, availability in various forms and better flavour at a competitive cost will not just attract and benefit Health conscious population, but also allow Dietary supplement manufacturers to foray into a new market of producing astaxanthin formulations enabling a new revenue stream with increased economic benefits. The key objectives of the AstaFerm™ development are to optimize the formula, scale up the production and perform clinical validation.
