Algae: Critical Sources of Very Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

Abstract

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are divided into n-3 and n-6 classes, are essential for good health in humans and many animals. They are metabolised to lipid mediators, such as eicosanoids, resolvins and protectins. Increasing interest has been paid to the 20 or 22 carbon very long chain PUFAs, since these compounds can be used to form lipid mediators and, thus, avoid inefficient formation of dietary plant PUFAs. The ultimate sources of very long chain PUFAs are algae, which are consumed by fish and then by humans. In this review, I describe the biosynthesis of very long chain PUFAs by algae and how this synthesis can be manipulated for commercial purposes. Ultimately, the production of algal oils is critical for ecosystems worldwide, as well as for human dietary lipids.

Nutritional Enhancement of Farmed Salmon Meat via Non-GMO Nannochloropsis Gaditana: Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA, 20:5 n-3), Docosapentaenoic Acid (DPA, 22:5 n-3) and Vitamin D3 for Human Health

“…Our study showed that spray-dried NG produced under controlled culture conditions using UMA 5 culture medium is an important source of ash (21.26%), sodium (5.40%), and calcium (4.11%), and a major source of the polyunsaturated fatty acid EPA (26.73% expressed as a percent of total fatty acids). The high EPA values and the absence of DHA obtained with NG treatment are consistent with the values of these fatty acids reported previously for Nannochloropsis gaditana [ 31 ]. NG concentrate showed no presence of vitamin D 3 .…”

“…Microalgae in the aquatic and marine environments are the primary producers of n-3 LC-PUFAs [ 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Microalgae, owing to their composition and simplicity of cultivation, have great potential in the trend of using natural additives.…”

“…The biochemical composition of microalgae can be modulated by altering certain nutrients, environmental stress and culture conditions to induce the microorganisms to produce high concentrations of the desired nutrient [ 42 ]. Lipid metabolism is strongly influenced by environmental factors, especially nutrition, and limitation of nitrogen and phosphorus [ 31 ]. Although strain- and species-specific variations in fatty acid composition are evident, some microalgae are promising sources of PUFA, especially EPA and DHA [ 39 , 43 ].…”

Omega-3 Versus Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in the Prevention and Treatment of Inflammatory Skin Diseases

“…ALA is found in green leafy vegetables, flaxseed, walnuts, soybean, and canola oils. Their derivatives, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are obtained through breast milk and the fish oils, such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, herring, and rainbow trout, but also algae [7][8][9][10]. Cold-water marine (wild) fishes are abundant in ω-3 PUFAs, since most of them feed on phytoplankton and zooplankton, a rich ω-3 PUFA source.…”

The Potential Beneficial Effect of EPA and DHA Supplementation Managing Cytokine Storm in Coronavirus Disease

“…In addition some evidence suggest that longterm supplementation of EPA and DHA may have side effects such as increasing risk of certain types of cancers, but the results are conflicting (Gerber, 2012;Alexander, 2013;Serini and Calviello, 2018). It should be also noticed that the usage of algae-or plant-based sources of EPA and DHA seems more preferable than marine or animal-based sources (Doughman et al, 2007;Lane et al, 2014;Harwood, 2019).…”