Innovative Dietary Solutions for Vegans: Macroalgae Amino Acids for Differentiated Nutrition
Veganism is gaining popularity due to its ethical, health, and environmental benefits. However, many vegans face challenges in obtaining a complete essential amino acid profile from plant sources, making diversified protein sources crucial for balanced nutrition. Macroalgae, a nutrient-rich food tra...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Maria Carpena Aurora Silva Franklin Chamorro Antia G. Pereira Francisca Santos Rafael Nogueira-Marques Cristina Soares Maria Fátima Barroso Miguel A. Prieto |
| author_facet | Maria Carpena Aurora Silva Franklin Chamorro Antia G. Pereira Francisca Santos Rafael Nogueira-Marques Cristina Soares Maria Fátima Barroso Miguel A. Prieto |
| author_sort | Maria Carpena |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Veganism is gaining popularity due to its ethical, health, and environmental benefits. However, many vegans face challenges in obtaining a complete essential amino acid profile from plant sources, making diversified protein sources crucial for balanced nutrition. Macroalgae, a nutrient-rich food traditionally consumed in Asia, offers a solution by providing both essential and non-essential amino acids vital for optimal health. This study analyzed the amino acid profiles of seven macroalgae species from the northwest coast of the Iberian Peninsula using HPLC with fluorescence detection. All samples contained essential amino acids, although tryptophan was mostly absent. Brown algae displayed higher aspartate and glutamate levels, contributing to the “umami” flavor, while red algae exhibited higher histidine and lysine concentrations. These findings highlight macroalgae as a valuable food source for vegan diets, offering a comprehensive amino acid profile essential for personalized nutrition plans. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e2b4775183f74ee4b886402707ea4ace |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2673-9976 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology and Life Sciences Forum |
| spelling | doaj-art-e2b4775183f74ee4b886402707ea4ace2025-08-20T02:42:39ZengMDPI AGBiology and Life Sciences Forum2673-99762025-03-01381810.3390/blsf2024038008Innovative Dietary Solutions for Vegans: Macroalgae Amino Acids for Differentiated NutritionMaria Carpena0Aurora Silva1Franklin Chamorro2Antia G. Pereira3Francisca Santos4Rafael Nogueira-Marques5Cristina Soares6Maria Fátima Barroso7Miguel A. Prieto8Universidade de Vigo, Nutrition and Food Group (NuFoG), Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Instituto de Agroecoloxía e Alimentación (IAA)–CITEXVI, 36310 Vigo, SpainUniversidade de Vigo, Nutrition and Food Group (NuFoG), Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Instituto de Agroecoloxía e Alimentación (IAA)–CITEXVI, 36310 Vigo, SpainUniversidade de Vigo, Nutrition and Food Group (NuFoG), Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Instituto de Agroecoloxía e Alimentación (IAA)–CITEXVI, 36310 Vigo, SpainUniversidade de Vigo, Nutrition and Food Group (NuFoG), Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Instituto de Agroecoloxía e Alimentación (IAA)–CITEXVI, 36310 Vigo, SpainREQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalUniversidade de Vigo, Nutrition and Food Group (NuFoG), Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Instituto de Agroecoloxía e Alimentación (IAA)–CITEXVI, 36310 Vigo, SpainREQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalREQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalUniversidade de Vigo, Nutrition and Food Group (NuFoG), Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, Instituto de Agroecoloxía e Alimentación (IAA)–CITEXVI, 36310 Vigo, SpainVeganism is gaining popularity due to its ethical, health, and environmental benefits. However, many vegans face challenges in obtaining a complete essential amino acid profile from plant sources, making diversified protein sources crucial for balanced nutrition. Macroalgae, a nutrient-rich food traditionally consumed in Asia, offers a solution by providing both essential and non-essential amino acids vital for optimal health. This study analyzed the amino acid profiles of seven macroalgae species from the northwest coast of the Iberian Peninsula using HPLC with fluorescence detection. All samples contained essential amino acids, although tryptophan was mostly absent. Brown algae displayed higher aspartate and glutamate levels, contributing to the “umami” flavor, while red algae exhibited higher histidine and lysine concentrations. These findings highlight macroalgae as a valuable food source for vegan diets, offering a comprehensive amino acid profile essential for personalized nutrition plans.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9976/38/1/8protein sourcesmacroalgaeessential amino acidsvegan diets |
| spellingShingle | Maria Carpena Aurora Silva Franklin Chamorro Antia G. Pereira Francisca Santos Rafael Nogueira-Marques Cristina Soares Maria Fátima Barroso Miguel A. Prieto Innovative Dietary Solutions for Vegans: Macroalgae Amino Acids for Differentiated Nutrition Biology and Life Sciences Forum protein sources macroalgae essential amino acids vegan diets |
| title | Innovative Dietary Solutions for Vegans: Macroalgae Amino Acids for Differentiated Nutrition |
| title_full | Innovative Dietary Solutions for Vegans: Macroalgae Amino Acids for Differentiated Nutrition |
| title_fullStr | Innovative Dietary Solutions for Vegans: Macroalgae Amino Acids for Differentiated Nutrition |
| title_full_unstemmed | Innovative Dietary Solutions for Vegans: Macroalgae Amino Acids for Differentiated Nutrition |
| title_short | Innovative Dietary Solutions for Vegans: Macroalgae Amino Acids for Differentiated Nutrition |
| title_sort | innovative dietary solutions for vegans macroalgae amino acids for differentiated nutrition |
| topic | protein sources macroalgae essential amino acids vegan diets |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9976/38/1/8 |
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