Algae as nutritional and functional food sources: revisiting our understanding

From National Research Council Canada

DOI	Resolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-016-0974-5
Author	Search for: Wells, Mark L.; Search for: Potin, Philippe; Search for: Craigie, James S.¹; Search for: Raven, John A.; Search for: Merchant, Sabeeha S.; Search for: Helliwell, Katherine E.; Search for: Smith, Alison G.; Search for: Camire, Mary Ellen; Search for: Brawley, Susan H.
Name affiliation	National Research Council Canada. Aquatic and Crop Resource Development
Format	Text
Type	Article
Journal title	Journal of Applied Phycology
ISSN	0921-8971 1573-5176
Volume	29
Issue	2
Pages	949–982
Subject	algal foods; antioxidants; arsenosugars; experimental design; microalgal supplements; nutritional minerals; omega-3-fatty acids; polysaccharides; sea vegetables; vitamins
Abstract	Global demand for macroalgal and microalgal foods is growing, and algae are increasingly being consumed for functional benefits beyond the traditional considerations of nutrition and health. There is substantial evidence for the health benefits of algal-derived food products, but there remain considerable challenges in quantifying these benefits, as well as possible adverse effects. First, there is a limited understanding of nutritional composition across algal species, geographical regions, and seasons, all of which can substantially affect their dietary value. The second issue is quantifying which fractions of algal foods are bioavailable to humans, and which factors influence how food constituents are released, ranging from food preparation through genetic differentiation in the gut microbiome. Third is understanding how algal nutritional and functional constituents interact in human metabolism. Superimposed considerations are the effects of harvesting, storage, and food processing techniques that can dramatically influence the potential nutritive value of algal-derived foods. We highlight this rapidly advancing area of algal science with a particular focus on the key research required to assess better the health benefits of an alga or algal product. There are rich opportunities for phycologists in this emerging field, requiring exciting new experimental and collaborative approaches.
Publication date	2016-11-21
Publisher	Springer
Language	English
Peer reviewed	Yes
NPARC number	23002589
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Record identifier	1499cc31-3908-4221-baab-f8dd9d257d2e
Record created	2017-12-04
Record modified	2017-12-04

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Date modified:: 2020-02-23