TY - JOUR
T1 - Nitrate, Nitrite, and Iodine Concentrations in Commercial Edible Algae: An Observational Study
AU - Casas-Agustench, Patricia
AU - Hayter, Jade M.
AU - Ng, Odelia S. B.
AU - Hallewell, Lauren V.
AU - Clark, Nathaniel J.
AU - Bescos, Raul
PY - 2024/8/21
Y1 - 2024/8/21
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - edible algae
KW - iodine
KW - nitrate
KW - nitrite
UR - https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13162615
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85202619466&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/context/hp-research/article/1528/viewcontent/foods_13_02615_v2.pdf
U2 - 10.3390/foods13162615
DO - 10.3390/foods13162615
M3 - Article
C2 - 39200542
SN - 2304-8158
VL - 13
JO - Foods
JF - Foods
IS - 16
M1 - 2615
ER -