From a nutritional point of view, edible seaweeds are low-calorie foods, with a high concentration of minerals, vitamins and proteins, and a low content in lipids. Quality of protein and lipid in seaweeds is acceptable comparing with other diet vegetables mainly due to their high content in essential amino acids and their relative high levels of unsaturated fatty acids. Dietary fiber content range from 33% to 75% of dry weight, and mainly consist of soluble polysaccharides (range from 17% to 59%), which fiber differs chemically and physicochemically from those of land plants and thus may induce different physiological effects. Referenced data indicate that marine algal dietary properties may show important functional activities, such as antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticoagulant effect, antitumor activity, and an important role in the modification of lipid metabolism in human body. In conclusion, kelp/seaweeds have a high nutritional value, therefore an increase in their consumption, would elevate the foods offer to population. (Jimenez-Escrig A & Goni Cambrodon I, Arch Latinoam Nutr, 49(2): 114, 1999)

Kelp / seaweed are potentially adequate sources of vitamin B-12 for vegans. (Dagnelie P, J Nutr. 127(2): 379, 1997) The present study examined the vitamin B-12 status in long-term adherents of a strict uncooked vegan diet called the "living food diet." Vegans consuming seaweeds had serum vitamin B-12 concentrations twice as high as those not using seaweeds. On the basis of the results we conclude that some seaweeds consumed in large amounts can supply adequate amounts of bioavailable vitamin B-12. (Rauma A, J Nutr, 125(10): 2511, 1995)

Seawater itself has antibiotic and healing properties. Algae in the sea have properties related to the seawater�s medicinal powers, which may explain why marine products have fungicidal, anti-tumor, anti-viral, anti-biotic, hemolytic, analgesic, cardio-inhibitory and other properties. It is also interesting to note that seawater contains dissolved bromine, a compound used in many sedatives. (Riekert H, Drugs from the Sea, Govt Printer, RSA, 1972)
Seaweed contains antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiprotozoal, anthelmintic and antineoplastic elements and properties. The halogens, iodine and bromine in particular are effective antiseptics and disinfectants and the tannin polyphenols have antibacterial actions. The polysaccharides present have antitumor and blood anticoagulant actions similar to heparin. (Tressler D, Marine Products in Commerce, Reinhold, 1954; Chapman V, Seaweeds and Their Uses, Methuen, 1970; Arasaki S & T, Vegetables From the Sea, Japan Publications, 1983)

Nutritional

Determination and identification of beta-1,3;1,6-glycooligosaccharides in laminarioligosaccharide mixtures by means of enzymologic transglycosylation. Oligosaccharides with degree of polymerization of 5 and 6]. Eliakova LA, Bakunina IIu, Mamontova VA, Isakov VV
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far East Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia.
1-->3; 1-->6-beta-D-Glucooligosaccharides with polymerization degree of 5-6 were obtained from laminaran and analyzed by the previously developed method [1] by using them as donors and p-nitrophenyl beta-D-glucoside as the acceptor in the transglycosylation reaction catalysed by endo-1-->3-beta-D-glucanase LIV. The resulting homologous p-nitrophenyl beta-1,3-laminarioligosides with polymerization degree of 2-6 and the corresponding derivatives of mixed beta-1,3; 1,6-glucooligosaccharides with the same polymerization degree were analyzed by HPLC. The latter compounds exhibited higher retention times than the former with the same polymerization degree. Isomeric tetra-, penta-, and hexameric compounds were detected, and some of them were structurally characterized by means of NMR. The suggested method of analysis of oligosaccharide mixtures is simple, informative, and consumes a minimal quantity of sample.
PMID: 9612563, UI: 98275510