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Nutritional value of selected macroalgae

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Abstract

Macroalgae are traditionally used in human and animal nutrition. Their protein and fiber content have been widely studied and differ according to the species, their geographic origin and their seasonal conditions. In addition to their value for human nutrition, seaweeds have multiple therapeutically applications (e.g., weight control, hypocholesterolemic, antioxidant and antitumor activities, others) and, in general, contribute and promote human health. In the archipelago of the Azores, the consumption of seaweeds is widespread and accepted as a common practice in some islands. This work is aimed at providing information on the protein and fiber content of the locally consumed species, to promote this regional food product that can be potentially profitable from the biotechnology and commercial perspective, and also benefit public health, particularly, taking into account the low level of marine pollution in the Azores archipelago. Protein and fiber content of eight seaweeds (Porphyra sp., Osmundea pinnatifida, Pterocladiella capillacea, Sphaerococcus coronopifolius, and Gelidium microdon, Rhodophyta; Cystoseira abies-marina and Fucus spiralis, Phaeophyta; Ulva compressa, Chlorophyta) were determined using the Kjeldahl method and the Weende method, respectively. The protein content ranged from 6.81 to 26.62 of dry weight for C. abies-marina and U. compressa, respectively. Fiber content was generally higher as compared with that in seaweeds from other origins and ranged from 33.82 to 63.88 for O. pinnatifida and F. spiralis, respectively.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Catarina Santos, Francisco Wallenstein, Daniel Torrão, João Brum and Nuno Álvaro for help with the field work. The surveys performed in the present study comply with the current laws of Portugal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grupo Biologia Marinha, Departamento Biologia, Universidade dos Açores, Apartado 1422, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, S. Miguel, Açores, Portugal

    Rita Ferreira Patarra & Ana Isabel Neto

  2. Centro de Investigação de Recursos Naturais dos Açores (CIRN), Departamento Biologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9501-801, Ponta Delgada, S. Miguel, Açores, Portugal

    Rita Ferreira Patarra, Ana Isabel Neto, Elisabete Lima & José Baptista

  3. Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR), Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal

    Rita Ferreira Patarra & Ana Isabel Neto

  4. Departamento Ciências Tecnológicas e Desenvolvimento (DCTD), Universidade dos Açores, 9501-855, Ponta Delgada, S. Miguel, Açores, Portugal

    Lisete Paiva, Elisabete Lima & José Baptista

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  1. Rita Ferreira Patarra
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  2. Lisete Paiva
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  3. Ana Isabel Neto
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  4. Elisabete Lima
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  5. José Baptista
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Correspondence to Rita Ferreira Patarra.

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Patarra, R.F., Paiva, L., Neto, A.I. et al. Nutritional value of selected macroalgae. J Appl Phycol 23, 205–208 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-010-9556-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-010-9556-0

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