To address the increasing global demand for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), novel and sustainable sources are required. Seaweeds have been identified as promising alternative sources of these fatty acids (FAs). This study evaluated the FA profiles of dry, commercially available seaweeds in the United Kingdom, including Porphyra spp., Palmaria palmata, Himanthalia elongata, Laminaria digitata, Saccharina japonica, Undaria pinnatifida, Sargassum fusiforme and Fucus vesiculosus. FA identification was performed by gas chromatography. The highest content of polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) was observed in U. pinnatifida, accounting for 67.68% of the total FAs (TFAs). EPA represented 33.34% of TFA content in Rhodophyta and 7.13% in Ochrophyta. EPA was the dominant FA in Porphyra spp., comprising 38.91% of TFAs (1064.40 mg/100 g dry weight). A higher content of EPA was also found in P. palmata (32.18%), L. digitata (13.76%), and U. pinnatifida (13.00%). DHA content was consistently lower than that of EPA, with the highest proportion observed in P. palmata (0.27% of TFAs). U. pinnatifida, P. palmata and Porphyra spp. appear to be the most promising seaweed species for providing n-3 long-chain PUFAs in human diets.
Jaworowska et al. (Mon,) studied this question.