PRODUCTION METHOD FOR ASTAXANTHIN-CONTAINING COMPOSITION

摘要

Disclosed is a method for reducing the amount of 3-hydroxy-3',4'-didehydro-ß-?-caroten-4-one (HDCO) relative to astaxanthin in an astaxanthin and HDCO containing composition by bringing the composition into contact with a basic medium having a pH of 9 or more and/or an acid medium having a pH of 3 or less. Also disclosed is an astaxanthin-containing composition production method, which includes a step whereby the relative amount of HDCO is reduced using the above method. By means of the disclosed methods, the relative amount of HDCO, the biological functions of which are unknown, contained in an astaxanthin-containing composition can be easily reduced.