Seaweed blends as a valuable source of polyunsaturated and healthy fats for nutritional and food applications

Marques, Francisca; Lopes, Diana; da Costa, Elisabete; Conde, Tiago; Rego, Andreia; Ribeiro, Ana Isabel; Abreu, Maria Helena; Domingues, Maria Rosário

Abstract

Seaweeds are considered healthy and sustainable food. Although their consumption is modest in Western countries, the demand for seaweed in food markets is increasing in Europe. Each seaweed species has unique nutritional and functional features. The preparation of blends, obtained by mixing several seaweeds species, allows the obtaining of maximum benefits and ingredients with single characteristics. In this work, five seaweed blends, commercially available and produced under organic conditions in Europe, were characterized. The proximal composition included contents of ash (20.28–28.68% DW), proteins (17.79–26.61% DW), lipids (0.55–1.50% DW), and total carbohydrates (39.47–47.37% DW). Fatty acid profiles were determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), allowing quantification of healthy fatty acids, namely n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and calculation of lipid quality indices. Each blend showed a characteristic PUFA content in the lipid pool (35.77–49.43% of total fatty acids) and the content in essential and healthy n-3 PUFA is highlighted. The atherogenicity (0.54–0.72) and thrombogenicity (0.23–0.45) indices evidenced a good nutritional value of lipid fractions. As nutritional and environmentally attractive products, the consumption of the studied seaweed blends can contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 26, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Nov 30, 2021
• Publication Date: Nov 30, 2021
• Deposit Date: Oct 24, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 24, 2023
• Journal: Marine Drugs
• Electronic ISSN: 1660-3397
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 12
• Article Number: 684
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/md19120684
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11391294