Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: It is widely accepted that the consumption of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has beneficial effects on human health. In this work, ten brown macroalgae species collected along the Portuguese west coast were studied for their fatty acids composition by GC-MS after alkaline hydrolysis and derivatization. The results of this survey showed that different macroalgae from the same region display distinct fatty acids profile. Concerning ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid was found in all but one species. Additionally, some species contained docosahexaenoic acid. Linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid of the ω-6 series, was present in all studied macroalgae. Fucus spiralis L. exhibited the highest amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids and of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the ω-3 and ω-6 series. The ω-6/ω-3 ratio in half of the studied species was lower than 1. This information reinforces the potential application of some brown macroalgae as dietary sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Authors: Graça Silva, Renato B. Pereira, Patrícia Valentão, Paula B. Andrade, Carla Sousa
Institutions: Universidade do Porto, Rede de Química e Tecnologia
Language: Portuguese
Subfield: Aquatic Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,990
OpenAlex ID: W1950321570