Mineral content of macroalgae and possible uses for human health

Abstract

Seaweeds have been used since ancient times as food, food additives, fertilizer, and a source of medicine. Like terrestrial plants, seaweeds contain many inorganic and organic substances which can beneficial to human health. Seaweeds have great potential as “bioactive compounds for functional use, “algae mineral supplements”, “pharmaceuticals and cosmetics” and in addition to their potential of good sources of minerals, trace elements, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates as traditional food. Due to the mineral absorption ability of macroalgae from the seawater, many species are a perfect source of some trace elements such as iron and iodine and a good source of some macro minerals such as calcium, phosphate, and magnesium. In some cases, the mineral content of the seaweeds may be higher than that of land plants. Scientific data show that the bioavailability of algae minerals is higher than rock-based minerals for humans. In recent years, the potential use of seaweed minerals as “algae mineral supplements” gained attention due to their rich elemental composition and the importance of minerals for human health. Mineral composition of seaweeds may vary according to locality, season, residence time, species physiology, and environmental conditions such as level of elements in seawater, light intensity, and salinity. Thus, new approaches and researches are needed on how much seaweeds can be consumed daily and their potential health risks. In this study, the mineral contents of seaweeds, the importance of minerals for human health, and potential uses of algae minerals were investigated.