Nutritional Evaluation of Australian Microalgae as Potential Human Health Supplements

TLDR

The study examined whether Australian native microalgae could serve as human health supplements. The authors harvested four microalgal cultures during exponential growth, lyophilized them, and analysed their proximate composition, pigments, amino acids, and fatty acids, then compared the results to commercial Spirulina and Chlorella. Australian native microalgae exhibited similar or superior nutritional properties to commercial products, with high‑quality protein, polyunsaturated fats, and antioxidant pigments, indicating great potential as multi‑nutrient human health supplements.

Abstract

This study investigated the biochemical suitability of Australian native microalgal species Scenedesmus sp., Nannochloropsis sp., Dunaliella sp., and a chlorophytic polyculture as nutritional supplements for human health. The four microalgal cultures were harvested during exponential growth, lyophilized, and analysed for proximate composition (moisture, ash, lipid, carbohydrates, and protein), pigments, and amino acid and fatty acid profiles. The resulting nutritional value, based on biochemical composition, was compared to commercial Spirulina and Chlorella products. The Australian native microalgae exhibited similar, and in several cases superior, organic nutritional properties relative to the assessed commercial products, with biochemical profiles rich in high-quality protein, nutritious polyunsaturated fats (such as α-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid), and antioxidant pigments. These findings indicate that the microalgae assessed have great potential as multi-nutrient human health supplements.