ORCID

Abstract

Edible algae are a natural source of nutrients, including iodine, and can also contain nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO3) and nitrite (NO2) as they can fix nitrogen from seawater. This study aimed to analyse the NO3, NO2, and iodine concentrations in eighteen macroalgae and five microalgae species commercially available in the United Kingdom. NO3 and NO2 concentrations were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and iodine was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). NO3 and iodine concentrations in macroalgae (NO3: 4050.13 ± 1925.01 mg/kg; iodine: 1925.01 ± 1455.80 mg/kg) were significantly higher than in microalgae species (NO3: 55.73 ± 93.69 mg/kg; iodine: 17.61 ± 34.87 mg/kg; p < 0.001 for both). In the macroalgae group, nori had the highest NO3 (17,191.33 ± 980.89 mg/kg) and NO2 (3.64 ± 2.38 mg/kg) content, as well as the highest iodine content. Among microalgae, Dunaliella salina had the highest concentration of NO3 (223.00 ± 21.93 mg/kg) and iodine (79.97 ± 0.76 mg/kg), while Spirulina had the highest concentration of NO2 (7.02 ± 0.13 mg/kg). These results indicate that commercially available edible algae, particularly macroalgae species, could be a relevant dietary source of NO3 and iodine.

DOI

10.3390/foods13162615

Publication Date

2024-08-21

Publication Title

Foods

Volume

13

Issue

16

Organisational Unit

School of Health Professions

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