Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access

Abstract

Nutritional Potential of Four Seaweed Species Collected in the Barbate Estuary (Gulf of Cadiz, Spain)

Garcia JS, Palacios V and Roldán A

The Gulf of Cádiz has great socio-economic importance given its high fishing activity and high diversity and abundance of marine resources including a wide variety of seaweeds not used as food. Four macro-algae (Ulva spp., Codium spp., Halymenia floresia and Saccorhiza polyschides) collected in the Gulf of Cádiz near the Barbate estuary were analyzed for moisture, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, ash, dietary fiber, caloric content, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids. The algae showed variations in all of the parameters analyzed. However, high concentrations of lipids and macro and micro-minerals and low concentrations of fiber and carbohydrates were related to the salinity, water temperature and nitrate contents of the collection areas. All four species had a high nutritional value, and these macro-algae have great potential for human consumption.