RT journal article
T1 Benefit of the nutritional and mineral composition of sea lettuce from a traditional salina: Implications for human consumption
A1 Sánchez García, Josefa
A1 Palacios Macías, Víctor Manuel
A1 Hernández Carrero, Ignacio
A1 Roldán Gómez, Ana María
A2 Biología
A2 Ingeniería Química y Tecnología de Alimentos
K1 Chemical composition
K1 Collection season
K1 Earthen ponds
K1 Green seaweed
K1 Minerals
K1 Traditional salina
K1 Ulva sp
AB The proximal composition and its seasonal variation of the green seaweed Ulva sp. harvested in a traditional saline (earthen ponds used for marine salt extraction) from Cadiz Bay (Southern Spain) was evaluated. Ulva sp. was also collected in a reference location within the Bay in order to compare and evaluate the effects of the particular characteristics of the saline in the composition of the macroalgae. Moisture, protein, lipid, ash, carbohydrate, fiber and macro- (Na, K, Ca, Mg), micro-mineral contents (Fe, Zn, Cu) and heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sn) of harvested biomass samples as well as environmental parameters of seawater (temperature, salinity, pH, DO, NH4+, NO3−, NO2− and PO43−) were measured. The results showed that Ulva sp. from the earthen ponds in the traditional salina was a better source of proteins, lipids, K and Mg, highlighting in summer with values of 27.54 % versus 6.11 %; 6.71 % versus 3.26 %; 26.60 mg g−1 versus 14.21 mg g−1 and 23.13 mg g−1 versus 17.79 mg g−1, respectively. It also had Na/K and Ca/Mg ratios of less than one, suggesting a healthy food source. Considering the Commission Recommendation (EU) 2018/464 as a working reference, Ulva sp. did not exceed the limit of toxic metals for human consumption. A season and site-season significant interaction on the composition of the seaweeds was observed. The proximal and mineral composition of Ulva sp. was influenced by the special features and environmental conditions of the earthen ponds. Hence, significant differences were observed in the macroalgae collected in the earthen ponds in summer and autumn, in contrast to the winter and spring samples, whose characteristics were similar to those from the inner bay. The closure of the lock-gates in summer to favor the production of salt significantly modified the environmental characteristics of the saline, affecting the physiological capacity of Ulva sp. to assimilate and storage nutrients, and therefore its tissue composition. As a consequence, the highest contents of lipid, ash, Ca, K, Mg and Fe were estimated in the macroalgae.
PB Elsevier Ltd.
SN 1873-7145
YR 2024
FD 2024
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/33648
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/33648
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 11-nov-2026