ABSTRACT

References ......................................................................................................................................275

The therapeutic significance of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3), has been demonstrated by numerous clinical and epidemiological studies1-3. The traditional source of n-3 fatty acids is fish oil. However, the use of fish oil as a food component is limited due to problems associated with its typical fishy smell, unpleasant taste, and poor oxidative stability. Furthermore, the presence of EPA in fish oil is considered undesirable for application in infant food4. Thus, alternative sources are of interest. Considerable evidence has indicated that n-3 fatty acids in fish oils actually derive from zooplankton that consumes algae5. Therefore, microalgae are considered as the most promising source of DHA.