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Wells ML, Potin P, Craigie JS, Raven JA, Merchant SS, Helliwell KE, Smith AG, Camire ME, Brawley SH. Algae as nutritional and functional food sources: revisiting our understanding. J Appl Phycol 2016; 29:949-982. [PMID: 28458464 PMCID: PMC5387034 DOI: 10.1007/s10811-016-0974-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 521] [Impact Index Per Article: 65.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2016] [Revised: 09/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark L. Wells
- School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469 USA
| | - Philippe Potin
- Integrative Biology of Marine Models, Station Biologique Roscoff, CNRS-Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Place Georges Teissier, 29680 Roscoff, France
| | - James S. Craigie
- National Research Council of Canada, 1411 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS B3H 3Z1 Canada
| | - John A. Raven
- Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee (James Hutton Inst), Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA Scotland UK
- Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007 Australia
| | - Sabeeha S. Merchant
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California-Los Angeles, 607 Charles E. Young Dr., East, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569 USA
| | - Katherine E. Helliwell
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing St., Cambridge, CB2 3EA UK
- Marine Biological Association of the UK, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB UK
| | - Alison G. Smith
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing St., Cambridge, CB2 3EA UK
| | - Mary Ellen Camire
- School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469 USA
| | - Susan H. Brawley
- School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469 USA
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