The purpose of the present study was to clarify the differences in the bioavailability and tissue accumulation efficiency between (all-E)-and (Z)-astaxanthin. Astaxanthin with a high proportion of the Z-isomer (especially rich in the 9Z-and 13Zisomers) was prepared from (all-E)-astaxanthin by thermal treatment and solid−liquid separation. The all-E-isomer-or Z-isomer-rich diet was fed to male rats for 2 weeks. After the feeding period, blood and tissue samples were collected, and their astaxanthin levels were evaluated. The Z-isomer-rich astaxanthin diet resulted in higher levels of astaxanthin in blood and many tissues (in particular, skin, lung, prostate, and eye) compared to the all-E-isomer-rich diet. Moreover, the Z-isomer-rich diet enhanced the level of the 13Zisomer in blood and tissues rather than that of the 9Z-isomer. These results strongly supported that astaxanthin Z-isomers have greater bioavailability and tissue accumulation efficiency than the all-E-isomer. Moreover, (13Z)-astaxanthin would have higher bioavailability and tissue accumulation than the other isomers.

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