A Foodomics Approach Reveals Hypocholesterolemic Activity of Red Microalgae

Microalgae are important primary producers in the marine food chain; however, only limited efforts have been made to research their use as nutraceuticals. Our laboratory has developed the biotechnological means for producing novel biochemicals from the marine red microalga Porphyridium sp., which can be used for a variety of applications, including cosmetics, pharmaceutics, and in the food industry. Importantly, in addition to being a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals, Porphyridium sp. also contains sulfated polysaccharides, a unique source of dietary fiber. By using a foodomics approach, our group has demonstrated that consuming either the biomass (cells) or the isolated sulfated polysaccharides from Porphyridium sp. can lower plasma cholesterol levels in animals through different physiological mechanisms. Hence, these products may be used as new hypocholesterolemic food supplements that may potentially reduce risk factors for coronary vascular diseases.