Summary
This narrative review examines microalgae as a promising natural biofactory for vitamin production to address global vitamin deficiency. The authors synthesise evidence on vitamin diversity across microalgal species, the environmental factors modulating their synthesis, and their potential as sustainable sources of functional ingredients for food and nutraceutical applications. The review identifies both the biological promise and practical challenges in leveraging microalgae for human vitamin supplementation.
Regional applicability
The findings on microalgae as vitamin sources have global applicability and are not geographically specific. In United Kingdom contexts, microalgal cultivation could support sustainable, locally-produced nutraceutical and functional food development, though deployment would depend on regulatory approval pathways for novel food ingredients and commercial viability at scale.
Key measures
Vitamin content in microalgal cells; forms of vitamins (A, B-complex, C, D, E) across microalgal species; environmental and biological factors influencing vitamin production; biological activity of vitamins in human metabolism
Outcomes reported
The paper reviews vitamin content across microalgal species, their biological roles, environmental modulation, and potential as functional ingredients in food and nutraceuticals. It synthesises current knowledge on microalgal vitamin diversity and discusses challenges in commercialising microalgae as vitamin sources.
Topic tags
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