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Research Project
SEAFOOD LIPIDS BIOACCESSIBILITY AND A MORE ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF THE RISK-BENEFIT BINOMIAL FOR SEAFOOD CONSUMPTION
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Seasonality as experienced in the market and the resulting variation in the amino acid and elemental composition of chub mackerel (Scomber colias)
Publication . Motta, C.; Rego, A.; Cardoso, C.; Coelho, I.; Gomes-Bispo, A.; Afonso, C.; Prates, J.A.M.; Castanheira, I.; Bandarra, N.
Chub mackerel (Scomber colias) is an underutilised fish species, abundant in the Atlantic Ocean. Its amino acid
profile and elemental composition are still insufficiently studied. Accordingly, these aspects were studied on a
monthly basis. The most abundant essential amino acids, lysine and leucine, had contents ranging from 1270 ±
40 mg/100 g in August to 1820 ± 96 mg/100 g in November and from 1210 ± 36 mg/100 g in August to 1570 ±
20 mg/100 g in March, respectively. The other essential amino acids’ contents varied between 500 and 1200 mg/
100 g. Essential amino acids represented between 41.9 % and 44.6 % of all amino acids. As a result of high
histidine content in S. colias, three weekly meals (160 g/meal) guarantee all human histidine requirements.
Regarding elemental composition, K was the most abundant, varying its content between 331 ± 3 mg/100 g and
499 ± 4 mg/100 g. The other studied elements’ order of abundance was P > Na > Mg > Ca > Fe > Zn. Under
optimal conditions, consumption of a 160 g daily meal of S. colias may provide at most 20 % of the Fe and 30 %
of the Zn requirements. Therefore, though not an outstanding Fe and Zn source, S. colias can give a significant
contribution to these elements’ requirements
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of ethyl acetate extracts of chub mackerel (Scomber colias): a thorough seasonal evaluation
Publication . Cardoso, Carlos; Matos, Joana; Gomes-Bispo, Ana; Afonso, Cláudia; Motta, Carla; Castanheira, Isabel; Prates, José; Bandarra, Narcisa
The seasonal variation of key bioactivities in ethyl acetate extracts of chub mackerel (Scomber colias), an
underutilised fish species, was evaluated through a complete monthly sampling. The phenolic content had
a seasonal variation, ranging from 39 5 mg GAE/100 g ww (February) to 340 6 mg GAE/100 g ww
(October). Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) increased from 1.3 0.4 lmol Fe2+ Eq/g ww (Jan uary) to 10.3 0.1 lmol Fe2+ Eq/g ww (September). ABTS had no antioxidant activity between June
and December, being the highest value in February, 64.3 6.3 lmol Trolox Eq/100 g ww. For phenolic
content and FRAP, there was a strong seasonality, which was similar to that of the lipid content. There fore, correlations were high, being R2 0.95 for lipid vs. phenolic contents. Anti-inflammatory activity did
not show large changes throughout most part of the year, remaining high in the 70–80% of COX-2 inhi bition. This finding and the seasonality of the antioxidant properties warrant further research
Bioactive and nutritional potential of Alaria esculenta and Saccharina latissima
Publication . Afonso, C.; Matos, J.; Guarda, I.; Gomes-Bispo, A.; Gomes, R.; Cardoso, C.; Gueifão, S.; Delgado, I.; Coelho, Inês; Castanheira, Isabel; Bandarra, N.M.
The brown seaweed species Alaria esculenta and Saccharina latissima are commercial edible resources in Norway. There are
knowledge gaps regarding these species. Accordingly, they were characterized and their bioactivity and bioaccessibility evaluated.
The fatty acid (FA) analysis revealed anω-3/ω-6 ratio of almost 2 in A. esculenta vs 1 in S. latissima. The FAs 18:4ω-3 (stearidonic
acid) and 20:5ω-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid) were themain contributors to the relativeω-3 polyunsaturated FA richness in A. esculenta.
This seaweed was also rich in fucoxanthin (66.1 ± 20.1 mg (100 g)−1 dw), representing approximately 4.1% of the total lipids. Hence,
this species may be a source of natural fucoxanthin. Anti-inflammatory activity was significantly stronger (p < 0.001) in the ethanolic
than in the aqueous extracts of the algal biomass, 48.3–60.4% vs 18.2–38.6% cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibition. In the bioaccessible
fraction of both species, phenolic content and antioxidant activitywere low.Moreover, the anti-inflammatory capacity was largely
lost in this fraction, especially in the case of S. latissima. Regarding elemental composition, there were no large differences between the
two brown seaweed species, being As levels high (53.11–58.93 mg kg−1 dw). However, this As is mostly organic and accordingly
poses a lower risk to human health. The I content was high, especially in S. latissima, 2829 ± 58 mg kg−1 dw (557 ± 17 mg kg−1 dw in
A. esculenta). Taking into account I levels, only 0.05 g and 0.39 g of S. latissima per day (based on I levels before digestion) are enough
to reach I DRI and I TUIL, respectively, or 0.07 g and 0.57 g per day (based on I levels after digestion), for I DRI and I TUIL,
respectively. The attained results point to an untapped potential regarding development of functional foods and other products with
high-added value—particularly in the case of A. esculenta.
Seasonal variation of chub mackerel (Scomber colias) selenium and vitamin B12 content and its potential role in human health
Publication . Rego, A.; Coelho, I.; Motta, C.; Cardoso, C.; Gomes-Bispo, A.; Afonso, C.; Prates, J.A.M.; Bandarra, N.M.; Silva, J.A.L.; Castanheira, I.
Chub mackerel (Scomber colias), an underutilised fish species, has been identified as an excellent source of selenium
and vitamin B12, which may prevent and delay cognitive decline and dementia. Given these nutrients’
contents seasonal variability, a complete monthly sampling, involving a specifically adjusted methodology for
the determination of vitamin B12 (LC-MS/MS) and its main vitamers and a sensitive analytical technique (ICPMS)
for Se, was carried out. Regarding total vitamin B12 in the chub mackerel muscle, its content varied from
10.0 ± 1.0 μg/100 g in February to 18.9 ± 1.9 μg/100 g in August. It was also shown that methylcobalamin
content ranged from 1.12 ± 0.43 (March) to 6.77 ± 0.80 μg/100 g (August), a sixfold increase. Hydroxocobalamin
content varied between 3.49 ± 0.12 (February) and 9.62 ± 0.41 μg/100 g (August). The content of
Se also had seasonal variability, ranging from 451 ± 14 μg/kg (December) to 606 ± 11 μg/kg (July). In the
worst-case scenario, a weekly 160 g meal of this fish would almost guarantee B12 requirements. Three weekly
160 g meals of S. colias would cover, at least, 56% of the Se requirements. Therefore, as first explored here, it is highly relevant a complete, year-round assessment of the chub mackerel’s nutritional value, in order to elaborate finely tuned dietary recommendations.
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Funding agency
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Funding programme
OE
Funding Award Number
SFRH/BPD/102689/2014