Alternative Sources of n-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Marine Microalgae

Martins, Dulce Alves; Custódio, Luísa; Barreira, Luísa; Pereira, Hugo; Ben-Hamadou, Radhouan; Varela, João; Abu-Salah, Khalid M.

doi:10.3390/md11072259

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Alternative Sources of n-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Marine Microalgae

¹,

¹,

¹,

^1,†,

^1,*

and

Khalid M. Abu-Salah

^2,*

Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal

King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

Current address: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.

Mar. Drugs 2013, 11(7), 2259-2281; https://doi.org/10.3390/md11072259

Received: 16 April 2013 / Revised: 16 May 2013 / Accepted: 21 May 2013 / Published: 27 June 2013

(This article belongs to the Collection Bioactive Compounds from Marine Plankton)

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Abstract

The main source of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) in human nutrition is currently seafood, especially oily fish. Nonetheless, due to cultural or individual preferences, convenience, geographic location, or awareness of risks associated to fatty fish consumption, the intake of fatty fish is far from supplying the recommended dietary levels. The end result observed in most western countries is not only a low supply of n-3 LC-PUFA, but also an unbalance towards the intake of n-6 fatty acids, resulting mostly from the consumption of vegetable oils. Awareness of the benefits of LC-PUFA in human health has led to the use of fish oils as food supplements. However, there is a need to explore alternatives sources of LC-PUFA, especially those of microbial origin. Microalgae species with potential to accumulate lipids in high amounts and to present elevated levels of n-3 LC-PUFA are known in marine phytoplankton. This review focuses on sources of n-3 LC-PUFA, namely eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, in marine microalgae, as alternatives to fish oils. Based on current literature, examples of marketed products and potentially new species for commercial exploitation are presented. View Full-Text

Keywords: marine microalgae; n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids; EPA; DHA

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MDPI and ACS Style

Martins, D.A.; Custódio, L.; Barreira, L.; Pereira, H.; Ben-Hamadou, R.; Varela, J.; Abu-Salah, K.M. Alternative Sources of n-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Marine Microalgae. Mar. Drugs 2013, 11, 2259-2281. https://doi.org/10.3390/md11072259

AMA Style

Martins DA, Custódio L, Barreira L, Pereira H, Ben-Hamadou R, Varela J, Abu-Salah KM. Alternative Sources of n-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Marine Microalgae. Marine Drugs. 2013; 11(7):2259-2281. https://doi.org/10.3390/md11072259

Chicago/Turabian Style

Martins, Dulce A., Luísa Custódio, Luísa Barreira, Hugo Pereira, Radhouan Ben-Hamadou, João Varela, and Khalid M. Abu-Salah. 2013. "Alternative Sources of n-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Marine Microalgae" Marine Drugs 11, no. 7: 2259-2281. https://doi.org/10.3390/md11072259

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