Evaluation of Marine Microalga Diacronema vlkianum Biomass Fatty Acid Assimilation in Wistar Rats
Cristina de Mello-Sampayo,
Angela Paterna,
Ambra Polizzi,
Diana Duarte,
Irineu Batista,
Rui Pinto,
Patrícia Gonçalves,
Anabela Raymundo,
Ana P. Batista,
Luísa Gouveia,
Beatriz Silva-Lima,
Narcisa M. Bandarra
Affiliations
Cristina de Mello-Sampayo
Department of Pharmacological Sciences, iMed.ULisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon 1649-003, Portugal
Angela Paterna
Department of Pharmacological Sciences, iMed.ULisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon 1649-003, Portugal
Ambra Polizzi
Department of Pharmacological Sciences, iMed.ULisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon 1649-003, Portugal
Diana Duarte
Division of Aquaculture and Upgrading, Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, IP), Rua Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho, Lisbon 1495-006, Portugal
Irineu Batista
Division of Aquaculture and Upgrading, Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, IP), Rua Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho, Lisbon 1495-006, Portugal
Rui Pinto
Department of Pharmacological Sciences, iMed.ULisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon 1649-003, Portugal
Patrícia Gonçalves
Division of Modelling and Marine Resources, Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, IP), Rua Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho, Lisbon 1495-006, Portugal
Anabela Raymundo
LEAF (Linking Landscape Environment Agriculture and Food), Research Center. Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa. Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Ana P. Batista
LEAF (Linking Landscape Environment Agriculture and Food), Research Center. Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa. Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Luísa Gouveia
LNEG_Bioenergy Unit, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal
Beatriz Silva-Lima
Department of Pharmacological Sciences, iMed.ULisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon 1649-003, Portugal
Narcisa M. Bandarra
Division of Aquaculture and Upgrading, Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, IP), Rua Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho, Lisbon 1495-006, Portugal
Diacronema vlkianum is a marine microalgae for which supposed health promoting effects have been claimed based on its phytochemical composition. The potential use of its biomass as health ingredient, including detox-shakes, and the lack of bioavailability studies were the main concerns. In order to evaluate the microalgae-biomass assimilation and its health-benefits, single-dose (CD1-mice) studies were followed by 66-days repeated-dose study in Wistar rats with the highest tested single-dose of microalgae equivalent to 101 mg/kg eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid (EPA+DHA). Microalgae-supplementation modulated EPA and docosapentaenoic acid enrichment at arachidonic acid content expenditure in erythrocytes and liver, while increasing EPA content of heart and adipose tissues of rats. Those fatty acid (FA) changes confirmed the D. vlkianum-biomass FA assimilation. The principal component analyses discriminated brain from other tissues, which formed two other groups (erythrocytes, liver, and heart separated from kidney and adipose tissues), pointing to a distinct signature of FA deposition for the brain and for the other organs. The improved serum lipid profile, omega-3 index and erythrocyte plasticity support the cardiovascular benefits of D. vlkianum. These results bolster the potential of D. vlkianum-biomass to become a “heart-healthy” food supplement providing a safe and renewable source of bioavailable omega-3 FA.
