Abstract: A novel, new, and highly effective agent for promoting fat degradation that contains astaxanthin and/or an ester thereof as active ingredient is provided. The agent for promoting fat degradation of the present invention has an effect of reducing fat by lipolysis of fat in either a subject who is in a condition in which fat has already accumulated or a subject who is in a condition in which fat has not yet been accumulated. Accordingly, the agent for promoting fat degradation of the present invention can restore hypertrophied adipocytes to a normal size.

Abstract: Novel, safe, and highly effective agents for preventing insulin resistance and for preventing metabolic syndrome that contain astaxanthin and/or an ester thereof as an active component are provided. Even when a high-fat diet intake is continued, insulin resistance and subsequent hyperinsulinemia are suppressed by using the agent for preventing insulin resistance and the agent for preventing metabolic syndrome according to the present invention. Furthermore, suppression of fat degradation is thus inhibited and promotion of fat synthesis also is inhibited in adipose tissues, or glucose uptake into adipose tissues is inhibited, so that accumulation of fat within adipocytes is suppressed. Therefore, various diseases or symptoms having a relation to insulin resistance can be prevented or alleviated.

Abstract: Novel and highly effective agents for suppressing fat accumulation and for suppressing body fat gain that contain astaxanthin and/or an ester thereof as an active component are provided. The agent for suppressing fat accumulation according to the present invention effectively suppresses accumulation of fat both in subcutaneous fat and in visceral fat. Even when high-fat diet intake is continued, body weight gain is suppressed by using the agent for suppressing body weight gain according to the present invention. Therefore, life-style related diseases, which are very likely to be caused by obesity, can be prevented, and the agents can be also used as an agent for preventing or alleviating a disease or a symptom having a relation to fat accumulation.