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Lee Swanson Research Update
Seaweed Seen as Source of Functional Ingredients
August 2011
Seaweed and other macroalgae could rival milk products as sources of functional ingredients such as heart-healthy bioactive peptides.
A review of almost 100 scientific studies, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, reports that some seaweed proteins have the same effects as the bioactive peptides found in milk products and dairy products, and work to reduce blood pressure.
"Due to the environment in which they grow, macroalgae produce unique and interesting biologically active compounds," said Maria Hayes and colleagues from Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ireland and the University of London, UK.
"The variety of macroalga species and the environments in which they are found and their ease of cultivation make macroalgae a relatively untapped source of new bioactive compounds, and more efforts are needed to fully exploit their potential for use and delivery to consumers in food products," they added.
"Bioactive peptides are defined as food-derived peptides that exert a physiological hormone-like effect in humans beyond their basic, nutritional value," said Hayes and her team.
To date, they say that most bioactive peptides have been isolated from milk-based products. However, they believe that seaweeds are a rich but neglected alternative source.
"Marine organisms including seaweeds and microalgae, as a result of their exigent, competitive and aggressive surroundings compared to terrestrial environments, produce specific and active biomolecules and secondary metabolites," said the reviewers.
"These secondary metabolites result as a consequence of the harsh conditions in which macroalgae exist, including extremes of salinity and UV-vis irradiation, along with nutrient deficiencies," they added.
From a nutritional point of view, Hayes and her team said that "edible macroalgae are a low-calorie food, with a high concentration of minerals, vitamins and proteins and low lipid content."
They noted that seaweeds and other algae sources are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, D and E, along with the B vitamins and minerals including calcium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium.
Macroalgae and microalgae are also the nutritional source of PUFAs for many fish; "hence, macroalgae are also a viable source for these bioactive molecules," they added.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 59(13):6829-6836, 2011
