title: Heart health peptides from macroalgae and their potential use in functional foods.
abstract: Macroalgae have for centuries been consumed whole among the East Asian populations of China, Korea, and Japan. Due to the environment in which they grow, macroalgae produce unique and interesting biologically active compounds. Protein can account for up to 47% of the dry weight of macroalgae depending on species and time of cultivation and harvest. Peptides derived from marcoalgae are proven to have hypotensive effects in the human circulatory system. Hypertension is one of the major, yet controllable, risk factors in cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is the main cause of death in Europe, accounting for over 4.3 million deaths each year. In the United States it affects one in three individuals. Hypotensive peptides derived from marine and other sources have already been incorporated into functional foods such as beverages and soups. The purpose of this review is to highlight the potential of heart health peptides from macroalgae and to discuss the feasibility of expanding the variety of foods these peptides may be used in.
authors.affiliation: Food BioSciences Department, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ciaran
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Eimear
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tasdemir
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayes
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet; D005502:Food; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods; D055951:Functional Food; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012624:Seaweed / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D010455:Peptides