Variability in Macro- and Micronutrients of 15 Commercially Available Microalgae Powders
2021
Fabian Sandgruber | Annekathrin Gielsdorf | Anja C. Baur | Benjamin Schenz | Sandra Marie Müller | Tanja Schwerdtle | Gabriele I. Stangl | Carola Griehl | Stefan Lorkowski | Christine Dawczynski
The nutrient composition of 15 commercially available microalgae powders of <i>Arthrospira platensis</i>, <i>Chlorella pyrenoidosa</i> and <i>vulgaris</i>, <i>Dunaliella salina</i>, <i>Haematococcus pluvialis</i>, <i>Tetraselmis chuii</i>, and <i>Aphanizomenon flos-aquae</i> was analyzed. The <i>Dunaliella salina</i> powders were characterized by a high content of carbohydrates, saturated fatty acids (SFAs), omega-6-polyunsaturated fatty acids (n6-PUFAs), heavy metals, and α-tocopherol, whereas the protein amounts, essential amino acids (EAAs), omega-3-PUFAs (n3-PUFAs), vitamins, and minerals were low. In the powder of <i>Haematococcus pluvialis</i>, ten times higher amounts of carotenoids compared to all other analyzed powders were determined, yet it was low in vitamins D and E, protein, and EAAs, and the n6/n3-PUFAs ratio was comparably high. Vitamin B<sub>12</sub>, quantified as cobalamin, was below 0.02 mg/100 g dry weight (d.w.) in all studied powders. Based on our analysis, microalgae such as <i>Aphanizomenon</i> and <i>Chlorella</i> may contribute to an adequate intake of critical nutrients such as protein with a high content of EAAs, dietary fibers, n3-PUFAs, Ca, Fe, Mg, and Zn, as well as vitamin D and E. Yet, the nutritional value of <i>Aphanizomenon flos-aquae</i> was slightly decreased by high contents of SFAs. The present data show that microalgae are rich in valuable nutrients, but the macro- and micronutrient profiles differ strongly between and within species.
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