Abstract
BackgroundIn this study the efficacy of using marine macroalgae as a source for polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are associated with the prevention of inflammation, cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders, was investigated.MethodsThe fatty acid (FA) composition in lipids from seven sea weed species from the North Sea (Ulva lactuca, Chondrus crispus, Laminaria hyperborea, Fucus serratus, Undaria pinnatifida, Palmaria palmata, Ascophyllum nodosum) and two from tropical seas (Caulerpa taxifolia, Sargassum natans) was determined using GCMS. Four independent replicates were taken from each seaweed species.ResultsOmega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), were in the concentration range of 2-14 mg/g dry matter (DM), while total lipid content ranged from 7-45 mg/g DM. The n-9 FAs of the selected seaweeds accounted for 3%-56% of total FAs, n-6 FAs for 3%-32% and n-3 FAs for 8%-63%. Red and brown seaweeds contain arachidonic (C20:4, n-6) and/or eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA, C20:5, n-3), the latter being an important "fish" FA, as major PUFAs while in green seaweeds these values are low and mainly C16 FAs were found. A unique observation is the presence of another typical "fish" fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6, n-3) at ≈ 1 mg/g DM in S. natans. The n-6: n-3 ratio is in the range of 0.05-2.75 and in most cases below 1.0. Environmental effects on lipid-bound FA composition in seaweed species are discussed.ConclusionMarine macroalgae form a good, durable and virtually inexhaustible source for polyunsaturated fatty acids with an (n-6) FA: (n-3) FA ratio of about 1.0. This ratio is recommended by the World Health Organization to be less than 10 in order to prevent inflammatory, cardiovascular and nervous system disorders. Some marine macroalgal species, like P. palmata, contain high proportions of the "fish fatty acid" eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5, n-3), while in S. natans also docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6, n-3) was detected.
Highlights
In this study the efficacy of using marine macroalgae as a source for polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are associated with the prevention of inflammation, cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders, was investigated
There are two pathways for the van Ginneken et al Lipids in Health and Disease 2011, 10:104 http://www.lipidworld.com/content/10/1/104 conversion of C18 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to long chain PUFAs: Linoleic acid is converted to arachidonic acid in the n-6 series and a-linolenic acid is converted to EPA and DHA in the n-3 series (Figure 1, reviewed [3,7])
Similar concentrations are observed for Laminaria hyperborea, Undaria pinnatifida and Palmaria palmata which are collected from the French and Irish region of the Atlantic Ocean
Summary
In this study the efficacy of using marine macroalgae as a source for polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are associated with the prevention of inflammation, cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders, was investigated. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential nutrients which cannot, or only to a limited extent, be synthesised by mammals. They must be ingested via dietary sources [1,2]. Linoleic acid belongs to the n-6 series while linolenic acid refers to both a-linolenic (C18:3, n-3) and g-linolenic acid (C18:3, n-6) Within the body both can be converted to other PUFAs such as arachidonic acid (C20:4, n-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5, n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6, n-3). There are two pathways for the van Ginneken et al Lipids in Health and Disease 2011, 10:104 http://www.lipidworld.com/content/10/1/104 conversion of C18 PUFAs to long chain PUFAs: Linoleic acid is converted to arachidonic acid in the n-6 series and a-linolenic acid is converted to EPA and DHA in the n-3 series (Figure 1, reviewed [3,7])
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