Characterisation and chemometric evaluation of 17 elements in ten seaweed species from Greenland.

Jens J. Sloth,Susse Wegeberg,Yi Hu,Katharina J. Kreissig,Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen,Ole Geertz-Hansen,Pernille Erland Jensen

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0243672

Jens J. Sloth, Susse Wegeberg + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243672

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Abstract

Several Greenland seaweed species have potential as foods or food ingredients, both for local consumption and export. However, knowledge regarding their content of beneficial and deleterious elements on a species specific and geographical basis is lacking. This study investigated the content of 17 elements (As, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, I, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Se and Zn) in 77 samples of ten species (Agarum clathratum, Alaria esculenta, Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus distichus, Fucus vesiculosus, Hedophyllum nigripes, Laminaria solidungula, Palmaria palmata, Saccharina latissima and Saccharina longicruris). Element profiles differed between species but showed similar patterns within the same family. For five species, different thallus parts were investigated separately, and showed different element profiles. A geographic origin comparison of Fucus species indicated regional differences. The seaweeds investigated were especially good sources of macrominerals (K > Na > Ca > Mg) and trace minerals, such as Fe. Iodine contents were high, especially in macroalgae of the family Laminariaceae. None of the samples exceeded the EU maximum levels for Cd, Hg or Pb, but some exceeded the stricter French regulations, especially for Cd and I. In conclusion, these ten species are promising food items.

Highlights

Marine macroalgae, commonly known as seaweeds, are increasingly becoming popular as food items in the Nordic countries [1], as well as in Greenland [2, 3], where they have been a part of the traditional Inuit diet [4, 5]
To address the lack of knowledge about the nutritional profile of Greenland seaweeds, the present study focused on ten seaweed species of interest, harvested in Greenland
For F. vesiculosus, Fe concentrations of 33 to 77 mg kg-1 were reported by Riget, Johansen and Asmund [33], while in this study we found 133 mg kg-1 and they reported Zn concentrations of 7.2 to 10.2 mg kg-1 compared to the 50.6 mg kg-1 in this study

Summary

Introduction

Commonly known as seaweeds, are increasingly becoming popular as food items in the Nordic countries [1], as well as in Greenland [2, 3], where they have been a part of the traditional Inuit diet [4, 5]. Seaweeds have been identified as a sustainable income source in the remote and sparsely populated areas of the Northern Periphery and Arctic region of Northern Europe and Greenland—a region with a low population density and pristine waters [6].

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