One of the key goals the feed industry emphasizes when exploring the incorporation of novel substances into animal diets is to enhance feed utilization efficiency, to bolster animal health and well-being. Fermented seaweed powder holds promise as a valuable and sustainable component of animal feed, owing to its rich nutrient profile and purported benefits for livestock and aquaculture species. This study provides some interesting and original preliminary data regarding the benefits of supplementing cats\' diets with fermented dried seaweed. Using a broad investigative approach to measure and analyse multiple health benefits of feeding fermented dried macroalgae to cats as a nutritional supplement, the results of this 8-week study identified several positive health attributes related to body coat quality, nutrient digestibility, behavioural changes, a healthy gut microbiota ratio, and enhanced immunity. There were no adverse effects observed in the cats after supplementation with the fermented seaweed powder. The sample size in this study with cats should be increased, but this preliminary work showed that the seaweed-supplemented cats exhibited improvements in the measured health parameters over the control cats. As a result of this 8-week trial, key information has been provided regarding future research direction focusing on skin health application which is essential to the overall animal wellbeing.

Despite advancements in wastewater treatment technologies, heavy metal contamination, especially cadmium (Cd), severely threatens human health and ecosystems. The purpose of this work is to compare the removal of Cd (II) ions from aqueous solutions by chemically modified mixed seaweed biosorbent (CMSB) and physically modified mixed seaweed biosorbent (PMSB). BET, SEM, EDAX, FTIR, and XRD techniques characterized the mixed seaweed biosorbents before and after adsorption. They are well-known for their sustainability, affordability, and biodegradability. The BET study revealed that CMSB had a surface area of 19.682 m2/g, while PMSB had a lower surface area of 14.803 m2/g. The optimum adsorption conditions were a temperature of 303 K, pH of 6.0, and biosorbent dosages of 1 g/L for CMSB and 2.5 g/L for PMSB. For CMSB and PMSB, the most efficient contact times were 40 and 80 min, respectively. The Langmuir model was demonstrated to be the best fit for the experimental data when compared to other isotherm models, with a coefficient of determination, or R2, of 0.9713 and a maximum monolayer capacity of 151.2 mg/g and 181.6 mg/g for physical and chemical activated mixed seaweed biomass. There was a significant relationship between the R2 values of chemically modified and physically modified biomass. The findings demonstrate that pseudo-second-order kinetics more accurately represent the adsorption process than pseudo-first-order and Elovich models. Thermodynamic experiments validated the endothermic, spontaneous and favourable characteristics of the removal process. According to the results of the current study, PMSB and CMSB may be used as effective adsorbents to remove Cd (II) from aqueous solutions.

BACKGROUND: The large amounts of iodine in brown seaweeds may contribute towards an adequate iodine intake, but also pose a food safety risk. In the current work we estimate the maximum amount of the cultivated brown seaweeds Saccharina latissima and Alaria esculenta (blanched and non-blanched) that can be added to white loaf-type wheat-bread so European consumers are protected against excessive chronic intakes. We use data for high-level consumers of bread with special ingredients added from the EFSA comprehensive European food consumption database to construct a conservative risk management model. We bake prototype seaweed bread and use the output from the model to assess exposure to iodine and trace metals. We also assess some bread quality parameters such as sensory characteristics, crumb firmness and specific volume.
RESULTS: The maximum level of iodine in bread that would mitigate the European consumer from excess intakes was 857 μg I kg-1 bread. Assuming a typical 60% wheat flour per kilogram of bread, a maximum amount of 11.3 g of dried blanched A. esculenta (115 mg I kg-1 dry weight) could be incorporated per kilogram of wheat flour into the bread recipe whilst for non-blanched S. latissima, which contained 3500 mg I kg-1 dry weight, only a minuscule 350 mg of seaweed was the limit. For prototype breads, seaweed addition had no significant impact on the specific volume and crumb firmness. Levels of cadmium and arsenic in the bread were also of low toxicological concern.
CONCLUSIONS: A maximum 1-2% brown seaweed of total flour weight could be added to bread to contribute towards European consumers\' adequate iodine intake without overexposure. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Copious amounts of methane, a major constituent of greenhouse gases currently driving climate change, are emitted by livestock, and efficient methods that curb such emissions are urgently needed to reduce global warming. When fed to cows, the red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis (AT) can reduce enteric methane emissions by up to 80%, but the achieved results can vary widely. Livestock produce methane as a byproduct of methanogenesis, which occurs during the breakdown of feed by microbes in the rumen. The ruminant microbiome is a diverse ecosystem comprising bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and archaea, and methanogenic archaea work synergistically with bacteria to produce methane. Here, we find that an effective reduction in methane emission by high-dose AT (0.5% dry matter intake) was associated with a reduction in methanol-utilizing Methanosphaera within the rumen, suggesting that they may play a greater role in methane formation than previously thought. However, a later spike in Methanosphaera suggested an acquired resistance, possibly via the reductive dehalogenation of bromoform. While we found that AT inhibition of methanogenesis indirectly impacted ruminal bacteria and fermentation pathways due to an increase in spared H2, we also found that an increase in butyrate synthesis was due to a direct effect of AT on butyrate-producing bacteria such as Butyrivibrio, Moryella, and Eubacterium. Together, our findings provide several novel insights into the impact of AT on both methane emissions and the microbiome, thereby elucidating additional pathways that may need to be targeted to maintain its inhibitory effects while preserving microbiome health and animal productivity.
OBJECTIVE: Livestock emits copious quantities of methane, a major constituent of the greenhouse gases currently driving climate change. Methanogens within the bovine rumen produce methane during the breakdown of feed. While the red seaweed Asparagopsis taxiformis (AT) can significantly reduce methane emissions when fed to cows, its effects appear short-lived. This study revealed that the effective reduction of methane emissions by AT was accompanied by the near-total elimination of methane-generating Methanosphaera. However, Methanosphaera populations subsequently rebounded due to their ability to inactivate bromoform, a major inhibitor of methane formation found in AT. This study presents novel findings on the contribution of Methanosphaera to ruminal methanogenesis, the mode of action of AT, and the possibility for complementing different strategies to effectively curb methane emissions.

BACKGROUND: Brown seaweed is promising for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Its bioactive constituents can positively affect plasma glucose homeostasis in healthy humans. We investigated the effect of the brown seaweeds Sargassum (S.) fusiforme and Fucus (F.) vesiculosus in their natural form on glucose regulation in patients with T2DM.
METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial. Thirty-six participants with T2DM received, on a daily basis, either 5 g of dried S. fusiforme, 5 g of dried F. vesiculosus, or 0.5 g of dried Porphyra (control) for 5 weeks, alongside regular treatment. The primary outcome was the between-group difference in the change in weekly average blood glucose levels (continuous glucose monitoring). The secondary outcomes were the changes in anthropometrics, plasma lipid levels, and dietary intake. The data were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model.
RESULTS: The change in weekly average glucose levels was 8.2 ± 2.1 to 9.0 ± 0.7 mmol/L (p = 0.2) in the S. fusiforme group (n = 12) and 10.1 ± 3.3 to 9.2 ± 0.7 mmol/L (p = 0.9) in the F. vesiculosus group (n = 10). The between-group difference was non-significant. Similarly, no between-group differences were observed for the changes in the secondary outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: A daily intake of 5 g of fresh, dried S. fusiforme or F. vesiculosus alongside regular treatment had no differential effect on weekly average blood glucose levels in T2DM.

Livelihood initiatives are common within marine protected areas (MPAs) aiming for poverty alleviation or higher income opportunities. However, results can be mixed in reality, as well as change over time. Furthermore, who benefits is a key consideration, as results can vary based on inequalities, including gender. Here, the monetary outcomes of different livelihood strategies were investigated across three MPA regions in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Using a quantitative approach, the results show that livelihoods have shifted in a six-year period, with livelihood strategies differing in poverty incidence and income. Livelihood initiatives, namely seaweed farming and tourism, did not provide significantly higher monetary returns compared to long-standing livelihoods, such as fisheries. Seaweed farming showed income stability but a high poverty incidence predominantly within women-headed households. During the study period, men primarily remained in fisheries, whilst women shifted to small-scale businesses and fisheries, largely exiting seaweed farming. This underscores a need for adaptive, gender sensitive management within fast changing coastal contexts.

The influence of iodine-rich foods on thyroid cancer (TC) risk remains inadequately understood. Therefore, we aimed to comprehensively investigate the relationship between three iodine-rich food groups and TC prevalence using extensive data from a large Korean population. We assessed the dietary intake of 169,057 participants in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (2004-2013) using a food frequency questionnaire. The top-three iodine-rich food groups (including egg, seaweed, and dairy) were selected based on Korean dietary reference intakes and categorized by weekly consumption frequency. We conducted multiple logistic regression models to examine the relationship between food consumption and TC prevalence. After adjusting for confounding factors, higher seaweed consumption (>5 times/week) was significantly associated with lower TC prevalence (odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.42, 0.32-0.56, p-value < 0.001). In contrast, compared with moderate dairy consumption (3-4 times/week), lower dairy product intake (<1 time/week) was associated with higher TC prevalence (OR, 95% CI = 1.32, 1.05-1.67, p-value = 0.017). Our findings suggest that sufficient seaweed consumption may offer protection against TC, and incorporating dairy products into the diet may lower TC incidence in the Korean population. The most significant limitations of our study are the absence of 24 h urine samples for iodine status assessment and the lack of clinical data on the diagnosis of thyroid cancer.

Ocean acidification (OA) driven by elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels is expected to disturb marine ecological processes, including the formation and control of harmful algal blooms (HABs). In this study, the effects of rising CO2 on the allelopathic effects of macroalgae Ulva pertusa to a toxic dinoflagellate Karenia mikimotoi were investigated. It was found that high level of CO2 (1000 ppmv) promoted the competitive growth of K. mikimotoi compared to the group of present ambient CO2 level (420ppmv), with the number of algal cell increased from 32.2 × 104 cells/mL to 36.75 × 104 cells/mL after 96 h mono-culture. Additionally, rising CO2 level weakened allelopathic effects of U. pertusa on K. mikimotoi, as demonstrated by the decreased inhibition rate (50.6 % under the original condition VS 34.3 % under the acidified condition after 96 h co-culture) and the decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, antioxidant enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase (CAT) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (ascorbate, vitamin C). Indicators for cell apoptosis of K. mikimotoi including decreased caspase-3 and -9 protease activity were observed when the co-cultured systems were under rising CO2 exposure. Furthermore, high CO2 level disturbed fatty acid synthesis in U. pertusa and significantly decreased the contents of fatty acids with allelopathy, resulting in the allelopathy weakening of U. pertusa. Collectively, rising CO2 level promoted the growth of K. mikimotoi and weakened allelopathic effects of U. pertusa on K. mikimotoi, indicating the increased difficulties in controlling K. mikimotoi using macroalgae in the future.

To evaluate seaweed as a biomonitoring organism, Fucus was sampled in the Faroe Islands. Nineteen PAHs, including the EPA 16, and four groups of alkylated PAHs were quantified using GC-MS analysis of extracts obtained using a modified QuEchERS method with ultrasonication in acetonitrile, back-extraction into hexane, and Florisil® cleanup. Samples from the harbor of Tórshavn collected at high tide were the most polluted with PAH concentrations between 1.3 × 102 and 1.7 × 102 ng/g wet weight. All samples contained a factor 10 higher concentrations of alkylated PAHs compared to their parent compounds. These results suggest that Fucus might be suitable as a biomonitoring organism for PAH pollution. Differences between samples collected in close proximity and on different days were observed (same range of RSD 14-120% and 60-102%, respectively), suggesting that water exchange, tide levels, and direct exposure to surface diesel pollution have a strong influence on pollutant uptake in Fucus. The findings stress the need for further evaluation of the sampling strategy.

BACKGROUND: Cellulite represents a common multi-factorial condition that affects nearly all women and is now recognized as a clinical condition associated with systemic factors and negative psychological effects. Several noninvasive and minimally invasive treatments were developed during the last few years, but limited evidence supports many of them due to lack of evidence, insufficient participants, and potential adverse effects.
METHODS: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a seaweed mud application in improving both the structure and function of tissues affected by cellulite. Sixty women with cellulite underwent 4-week applications of seaweed mud on the buttocks and thighs. The following assessments were performed at baseline and after the last treatment: photographic, clinical, and anthropometric evaluation; tests for elasticity and hydration; ultrasonography of cellulite nodules; and cellulite biopsies in the trochanteric region. Patient satisfaction was assessed using a 5-point Likert-scale questionnaire.
RESULTS: The treatment resulted in a significant improvement in the severity of cellulite severity between the initial assessment and the 4-week follow-up, with enhanced structure, elasticity, and hydration of the affected tissues. Microscopic analysis of the cellulite biopsies revealed a significant restoration of dermal organization with induced collagen synthesis and reduced inflammation, edema, and lipid deposition following the 4-week seaweed mud applications. Additionally, the treatment led to a remarkable improvement in comfort and satisfaction as well as a reduction in body circumferences.
CONCLUSIONS: The cosmetic application of seaweed mud has proven to be a safe, non-invasive treatment for improving the tissue alterations characteristic of cellulite.