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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Peter Chater, Dr Matt WilcoxORCiD, Dr Dave Houghton, Professor Jeffrey Pearson
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Seaweeds are an underutilised nutritional resource that could not only compliment the current western diet but potentially bring additional health benefits over and above their nutritional value. There are four groups of seaweed algae; green algae (Chlorophyceae), red algae (Rhodophycae), blue-green algae (Cyanophyceae) and brown algae (Phaeophyceae). Seaweeds are rich in bioactive components including polysaccharides and polyphenols. Polysaccharides content, such as fucoidan, laminarin, as well as alginate is generally high in brown seaweeds which are also a source of polyphenols such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, phlorotannin, stilbenes and lignans. These components have been shown to reduce the activity of digestive enzymes, modulating enzymes such as alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase, pepsin and lipase. This review discusses the effect of several of these components on the digestive processes within the gastrointestinal tract; focusing on the effect of alginate on pancreatic lipase activity and its potential health benefits. Concluding that there is evidence to suggest alginate has the potential to be used as an obesity treatment, however, further in vivo research is required and an effective delivery method for alginate must be designed.
Author(s): Chater PI, Wilcox MD, Houghton D, Pearson JP
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: Food & Function
Year: 2015
Volume: 6
Issue: 11
Pages: 3420-3427
Print publication date: 01/11/2015
Online publication date: 05/08/2015
Acceptance date: 28/07/2015
ISSN (print): 2042-6496
ISSN (electronic): 2042-650X
Publisher: ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c5fo00293a
DOI: 10.1039/c5fo00293a
