Abstract
The main source of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) in human nutrition is currently seafood, especially oily fish. Nonetheless, due to cultural or individual preferences, convenience, geographic location, or awareness of risks associated to fatty fish consumption, the intake of fatty fish is far from supplying the recommended dietary levels. The end result observed in most western countries is not only a low supply of n-3 LC-PUFA, but also an unbalance towards the intake of n-6 fatty acids, resulting mostly from the consumption of vegetable oils. Awareness of the benefits of LC-PUFA in human health has led to the use of fish oils as food supplements. However, there is a need to explore alternatives sources of LC-PUFA, especially those of microbial origin. Microalgae species with potential to accumulate lipids in high amounts and to present elevated levels of n-3 LC-PUFA are known in marine phytoplankton. This review focuses on sources of n-3 LC-PUFA, namely eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, in marine microalgae, as alternatives to fish oils. Based on current literature, examples of marketed products and potentially new species for commercial exploitation are presented.
Highlights
Research on microalgal lipids has gathered significant interest over the last few years, due to their bioactive properties, and as an important component of aquaculture feed, feedstock for the production of biofuels, and energy and biomass transfer between different trophic levels in the global food web [1,2,3]
Another special focus is on fetal neurodevelopment, infant cognitive development and visual acuity, which have been related to maternal seafood consumption and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) supply, especially docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) during early life [27,28]
Elongation into docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and subsequent desaturation by Δ4 desaturase, or through the anaerobic polyketide synthase (PKS) pathway, as it has been suggested for thraustochytrids [56] and has been inferred in silico for the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi Hay and Mohler [4], which are known for their potential to accumulate important amounts of PUFA [57,58]
Summary
Research on microalgal lipids has gathered significant interest over the last few years, due to their bioactive properties, and as an important component of aquaculture feed, feedstock for the production of biofuels, and energy and biomass transfer between different trophic levels in the global food web [1,2,3]. This review will focus on the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), their role in promoting human health or disease, and the dire need for alternative sources of LC-PUFA able to replace fish meal/oil as the bulk provider for this important class of biochemicals. A few topics have been covered elsewhere [4,5,6,7], this review integrates the current knowledge on microalgal. LC-PUFA biosynthesis and the use of specific examples of commercial photo- and heterotrophic microalgae for the production of fatty acids (FA) that can have an impact on the health of humans and other vertebrates. This review discusses the methods usually employed in LC-PUFA quantitation and the care needed for preventing LC-PUFA depletion upon microalgal cell disruption, which could lead to incorrect fatty acid profiles
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