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Home All issues Volume 22 / No 4 (July-August 2015) OCL, 22 4 (2015) D409 Full HTML
Open Access
Review
Issue
OCL
Volume 22, Number 4, July-August 2015
Article Number D409
Number of page(s) 7
Section Dossier: 12th Euro Fed Lipids Congress: Oils, Fats and Lipids: From Lipidomics to Industrial Innovation
DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/ocl/2015015
Published online 17 June 2015

© V. Mimouni et al., Published by EDP Sciences, 2015

Licence Creative Commons This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

1 Introduction

Food supplements are used to provide nutrients that can improve metabolic reactions involved in bioactive molecule synthesis. Among these nutrients, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are needed as precursors of molecules related with cardiovascular regulation such as prostaglandins, thromboxanes or leucotriens (Guesnet et al., 2005). Actually, fish oils are used to provide omega-3 PUFA, specifically eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA, respectively) for human nutrition. However, new plant marine sources can be used for the production of these fatty acids. Marine microalgae have the ability to synthesize these fatty acids and received special attention for aquaculture or for food supplement use by pharmaceutical and nutrition industries. Actually, few microalga species are used for human nutrition. Moreover, crude extracts or whole cell can be provided as ingredient in different food. As microalgae are known for lipid storage, extraction of lipid droplets provides oil that can be integrated in food preparation. In this case, only the effect of lipid could be beneficial, while when the whole cell is used, as freeze-dried biomass, all compounds of microalgae could interact in human metabolic pathways. Indeed, in addition to lipids, high levels of pigments or phytosterols present in microalgae can have synergic effects in the regulation of parameters involved in cardiovascular or metabolic diseases.

The aim of this review is to bring information about the potential role of microalgae as food supplements in replacement of commonly used marine sources such as fish oils. This information will be focused on the use of microalgae as alternative lipid and PUFA sources and their health benefits. Original results will also be presented on the dose effect of freeze-dried biomass of a marine diatom, Odontella aurita, on omega-3 PUFA tissue enrichment.

2 Microalgae as lipid and PUFA sources

Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms found in marine and freshwater. These organisms are characterized by biochemical molecules with potential for different industrial activities such as biofuel production, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or nutraceutics use (Mimouni et al., 2012).

The biochemical composition of microalgae reveals interesting levels of organic molecules such as proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, phytosterols and pigments, but also of mineral salts.

Although isolated from natural marine or freshwater, microalgae can be cultured through different scales, from erlenmeyer flasks (laboratory scale) to photobioreactors or open ponds and raceways (industrial scale). In order to maintain a constant biochemical composition, the photobioreactor culture is preferentially used in order to control parameters involved in the microalgal culture such as carbon source, nutriments, pH, light and temperature.

Among bioactive molecules, even if lipids from microalgae are actually used for animal nutrition in aquaculture, these molecules could be also used for human nutrition.

Indeed, marine microalgae are characterized by high levels of PUFA especially from the n-3 series, eicosapentaneoic and docosahexaenoic acids (EPA and DHA, respectively). The fatty acids are incorporated into neutral lipids (triacylglycerols) as storage but also into polar lipids such as phospholipids and galactolipids as membrane constituents of chloroplast and endoplasmic reticulum compartments, respectively.

According to this specificity in lipids and fatty acids, microalgae could be considered as an alternative to usual marine source used in human nutrition such as fish oils. Indeed, fish and fish oil are the main sources of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) but it has been raised that pollutants or toxins could be accumulated in fish. Moreover, the use of fish oil is quite poor partially due to problems linked with odor, taste and oxidative stability. Due to these disadvantages, researches have been developed for an application of microalgae (marine or freshwater) in human nutrition, specifically with fatty acid new source.

The main constituents of the lipid fraction of the fresh water microalga Chlorella vulgaris are oleic (18:1 n-9), palmitic (16:0) and linolenic (18:3 n-3) acids, accounting for 41, 22 and 9% of the total amount, respectively (Mendes et al., 1995). In another species, Dunaliella salina, these fatty acids account for more than 80% of the total of fatty acids (Herrero et al., 2006). The diversity of fatty acids that can be produced by microalgae are also function of length or unsaturation. For example, in the green fresh water microalga Haematococcus, short chain fatty acids have been characterized (Rodriguez-Meizoso et al., 2010). Some microalgae are able to synthesize LC-PUFA which could present some health benefits. Some are producing omega-6 fatty acids: the Arthrospira and Porphyridium species have the ability to synthesize respectively gamma-linolenic and arachidonic acids. Some others are producing omega-3 fatty acids: EPA has been proved to be synthesized in genus Nannochloropsis, Phaeodactylum, Nitzschia, Odontella, Isochrysis and Pavlova species while DHA was only present in the Crypthecodinium, Pavlova and Schizochytrium ones.

Among these microalgae, only few species have been authorized for a commercial used as food supplements. These species are Arthrospira, Chlorella, Crypthecodinium, Dunaliella and Odontella.

Table 1

Lipid content and the main omega-3 PUFA of interest of microalgae authorized for human nutrition.

Table 2

Use of biomass or crude extracts from some microalgae approved for human nutrition on some lipid parameters.

In Table 1 are reported the lipid content and the main omega-3 PUFA of interest of microalgae authorized for human nutrition.

3 Health benefits of microalgae in preventing cardiovascular diseases

Health benefits of microalgae are being increasingly recognized and appreciated within the last three to four decades since the introduction of probiotic nutritional supplements. Health benefits of food ingredients and dietary supplements are attributed essentially to long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA). Various microalgae, as outlined in the previous section, have the ability to synthesize LC-PUFA with particular interest, specifically the omega-3 and omega-6 series such as EPA, DHA and ARA (Pulz and Gross, 2004).

Freshwater and marine microalgae have been found to have health benefits on cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory diseases, cancer and viral infections. We focused this section on the role of some microalgae in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Table 3

Animal characteristics after 7 weeks of treatment.

Table 4

Glycemia and plasma lipids determinations after 7 weeks of treatment.

The microalga or more exactly cyanobacteria Athrospira sp. has been shown to increase the plasminogen activating factor in endothelial cells with a positive impact on cardiovascular disease prevention. This cyanobacteria is also known to enhance the immune system with a prevention in both viral and cancer infections, or to increase the gastrointestinal microorganism flora (Barrow and Shahidi, 2008). This microalga alleviates hyperlipidemia, decreases hypertension and glucose level (Spolaore et al., 2006). It also has been stated that another freshwater microalga, Chlorella sp. was able to have several health benefits such as a decrease of glycemia and cholesterolemia. These species could also be used to increase the cytokine production to stimulate immune response (Barrow and Shahidi, 2008).

Even if few microalga strains have been approved for human nutrition, some experiments with other microalgae have been conducted on animal models. Indeed, a lyophylisate of Porphyridium cruentum strain have been used as a food supplement for Syrian golden hamsters. In this experiment, it has been shown that the use of this microalga biomass reduced the circulating cholesterol (dose dependently) and body fat (expressed as percentage) in hypercholesterolaemic animals (Harding et al., 2009). In diabetic rats, it has been shown that groups fed with the microalga Isochrysis galbana exhibited decreased glucose and lipid values (triacylglycerol and cholesterol) and weight loss. Concerning the lipoprotein metabolism, this microalga increased the low density lipoproteins and decreased the high lipoprotein concentrations (Nuno et al., 2013).

In Table 2 are summarized the health effects investigated for microalgae biomass, extracts or metabolites in human and animal studies. Reported data are focused on regulation of lipid parameters with microalga approved for human nutrition. According to these data it appears that the use of diatoms in nutrition studies has only been poorly developed. In the last section of this review data will be provided with the use of the marine microalga O. aurita, a diatom rich in EPA used as dietary supplement.

4 The role of O. aurita, a marine diatom, used as dietary supplement, in preventing cardiovascular diseases

Metabolic syndrome including dyslipidemia, obesity and insulin resistance is a major public health problem. The modern lifestyle of an increased intake of palatable high-fat diet associated with decreased energy expenditure contribute to the current rising prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. Omega-3 PUFA contained in fish oils are well known to reduce the incidence of risk factors of metabolic syndrome (Poudyal et al., 2011). However, an alternative source of omega-3, from marine microalga, could have a similar effect. O. aurita is a marine diatom known to contain high levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 25 to 26% of total fatty acids) which is recognized to be involved in the prevention of cardiovascular risks. The use of this microalga was approved in 2002 for human nutrition by AFSSA (Agence Française pour la Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments).

First, will be presented results concerning the influence of the doses of O. aurita as food supplement in order to determine the minimal effective dose for incorporation of EPA and its conversion into DHA in plasma and liver tissues, and second, a synthesis of results obtained on effects of O. aurita used as dietary supplement on risk factors linked to metabolic syndrome installation in high fat-fed rats will be reported (Haimeur et al., 2012).

Table 5

Effect of different doses of O. aurita (OA) supplemented to a standard diet on fatty acid composition of the plasmatic lipids after 7 weeks of diet (in % molar).

Table 6

Effect of different doses of O. aurita (OA) supplemented to a standard diet on fatty acid composition of the liver lipids after 7 weeks of diet (in % molar).

Table 7

Main results obtained with a 3% freeze-dried O. aurita food supplement in high-fat fed rats in some biochemical parameters. Results are from Haimeur et al., 2012.

4.1 Effect of different doses of O. aurita supplemented to a standard diet on biochemical parameters involved in lipid metabolism in healthy rats

A preliminary study has been performed to investigate the effects of a standard diet supplemented with different doses of lyophilized O. aurita on biochemical parameters involved in lipid metabolism in rats, in order to determine the minimal effective dose for a positive effect on these biochemical parameters.

For this preliminary experiment, 30 Wistar rats were fed a standard diet for a week (acclimatation); then the rats were divided into 5 groups each receiving the standard diet supplemented with 0, 1, 3, 9, 12% of lyophilized O. aurita. After 7 weeks of diet the rats were sacrificed and the impact of different diets on some plasmatic biochemical parameters such as glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol, and the enrichment of plasma and tissue lipids in omega-3 are measured in order to find the lowest effective dose on these parameters.

Doses of O. aurita tested have no effect on the evolution of animal weight (Tab. 3). Also for plasma parameters, no significant dose effect on glycemia or on the plasma triglycerides and cholesterol levels were observed (Tab. 4).

As one of the interest of food supplement is to increase levels of molecules that can enhance metabolic reactions, we investigated the plasma and liver omega-3 PUFA enrichment. Main results are reported on Tables 5 and 6. In plasma the lipid EPA content was increased according to the dose supplied and the contents of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and DHA were significantly higher over 3% of O. aurita tested. In the liver a similar trend was observed with EPA provided by the microalga, with a conversion into DPA and DHA from a 3% weight/weight diet supplementation. According to these preliminary observations, it seemed that a 3% level of O. aurita biomass was enough to have omega-3 PUFA increase from EPA conversion. Even if EPA is incorporated into triacylglycerols or phospholipids, it seems that microalga fatty acids are available for tissue enrichment. So, it can be considered that he diatom O. aurita can be used as an alternative to fish oil sources for tissue lipid EPA supplementation. Therefore, the rate of 3%, which induced a high content of DHA in the liver, was used for subsequent experiments investigating the effect of freeze-dried O. aurita used as a food supplement, on the risk factors for high-fat diet induced metabolic syndrome in rats (Haimeur et al., 2012).

4.2 Effects of O. aurita, used as food supplement, on risk factors linked to metabolic syndrome installation in high fat-fed rats

In this study, the effects of O. aurita as dietary supplement on risk factors linked to metabolic syndrome installation in high fat-fed rats were reported (Haimeur et al., 2012).

For this experiment, male Wistar rats were randomly divided into groups of 6 animals and were fed with a standard diet (Control), with a high-fat diet (HF) or with the high-fat diet supplemented with 3% of freeze dried O. aurita (HFOA).

After 7 weeks of treatment, we evaluated in these animals, the effects of these different diets on the risk factors for metabolic syndrome, such as hyperlipidemia, platelet aggregation, thromboxane B2 production and oxidative stress.

The overview of the major results obtained in this study were reported in Table 7.

Despite no modification in body weight, it was noticed a decrease in adipose tissue weight in HFOA-fed rats.

Even if a slight decrease in glycemia was observed (ns), O. aurita intake decreased significantly triacylglycerol (TG) and total cholesterol (T-Chol) levels in plasma and liver compared to HF group levels which became similar to those obtained in controls. These modifications are similar to those already obtained with EPA in high fat-fed-mice, which reduced plasma and liver levels of triacylglycerol and total cholesterol (Nemoto et al., 2009).

Platelet aggregability tended to decrease with O. aurita intake in association with a decrease in the TXB2 level. The high amounts of EPA in this microalga could explain the crucial role of this fatty acid in reducing platelet aggregability (Lagarde et al., 2013). Concerning the oxidative stress parameters, it has been reported lower MDA levels and increased GPx activity in the liver after consumption of O. aurita, in high fat fed rats.

In conclusion, our results showed the efficiency of O. aurita as food supplement in regulation of physiologial and biochimical parameters involved in metabolic syndrome installation, platelet aggregability and oxidative stress status.

5 Concluding remarks

The main dietary sources of omega-3 (precursors) originate from oils produced by plants (Colza, walnuts, etc.) but LC-PUFAs came from seafood products. The omega-3 LC-PUFAs such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are primarily derived from oily fish (Nichols, 2010) or arising from use of some marine microalgae as a dietary supplement (Ulmann et al., 2014). Indeed, some species of microalgae are of particular interest and are used as a rich dietary source of EPA and DHA, but the consumption of complete microalgae or lipid extracts in the form of commercial food supplements is restricted to some genera, such as Arthrospira, Chlorella, Crypthecodinium, Dunaliella, and Odontella; however many other microalgae have been tested as potential food supplements, but are not yet authorized for commercial use (De Jesus et al., 2013).

The marine diatom O. aurita presents high levels of EPA, a central fatty acid in the prevention of cardiovascular risks, and has been approved as a dietary supplement. Preliminary results obtained in healthy rats on the dose effect of freeze-dried biomass of O. aurita have shown an omega-3 PUFA plasma and liver enrichment from a dose of 3%. Our results concerning the effect of freeze dried O. aurita, used as dietary supplement might help to focus on the interest of using this microalga to prevent cardio-metabolic risks.

Our findings also suggest that the effects of O. aurita intake could be related to a synergistic effect between EPA and other microalgal bioactive compounds, such as pigments, fibers, and phytosterols, which are known to have beneficial effects on human health (Lattimer et al., 2010; Peng et al., 2011).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the PHC-Volubilis program No. MA/21/61 with joint financial support from the French Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Moroccan Ministry of Research and Higher Education and the FP 7 European Project GIAVAP (Genetic Improvement of Algae for Value Added Products).

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Cite this article as: Virginie Mimouni, Lionel Ulmann, Adil Haimeur, Frédérique Guéno, Nadia Meskini, Gérard Tremblin. Marine microalgae used as food supplements and their implication in preventing cardiovascular diseases. OCL 2015, 22(4) D409.

All Tables

Table 1

Lipid content and the main omega-3 PUFA of interest of microalgae authorized for human nutrition.

In the text
Table 2

Use of biomass or crude extracts from some microalgae approved for human nutrition on some lipid parameters.

In the text
Table 3

Animal characteristics after 7 weeks of treatment.

In the text
Table 4

Glycemia and plasma lipids determinations after 7 weeks of treatment.

In the text
Table 5

Effect of different doses of O. aurita (OA) supplemented to a standard diet on fatty acid composition of the plasmatic lipids after 7 weeks of diet (in % molar).

In the text
Table 6

Effect of different doses of O. aurita (OA) supplemented to a standard diet on fatty acid composition of the liver lipids after 7 weeks of diet (in % molar).

In the text
Table 7

Main results obtained with a 3% freeze-dried O. aurita food supplement in high-fat fed rats in some biochemical parameters. Results are from Haimeur et al., 2012.

In the text

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