Seaweeds as nutraceuticals for health and nutrition

Throughout human history, seaweeds have been used as food, folk remedies, dyes, and mineral-rich fertilisers. Seaweeds as nutraceuticals or functional foods with dietary benefits beyond their fundamental macronutrient content, are now a major research and industrial development concept. The occurrence of dietary and lifestyle-related diseases, notably type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer, and metabolic syndrome has become a health epidemic in developed countries. Global epidemiological studies have shown that countries where seaweed is consumed on a regular basis have significantly fewer instances of obesity and dietary-related disease. This review outlines recent developments in seaweed applications for human health from an epidemiological perspective and as a functional food ingredient. Abbreviations: BNF, British Nutrition Foundation; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention USA; CMMM, Chinese Marine Materia Medica; DPPH, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; GAE, gallic acid equivalents; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; ORAC, oxygen radical absorbance capacity; PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acid; RNI, adult reference nutrient intake; WHO, World Health Organization.