Abstract

Adriana Ángela Pérez, Silvia Sara Farías, Analía Mabel Strobl, Silvina Camarda, Laura Beatriz Pérez, Otmaro Roses and María Angélica Fajardo

Seaweeds are considered a non- traditional food, constituent part of exotic diets or mineral supplement in far from the sea areas. The objective of this work was determining the concentrations of macroelements (Ca, Mg, and P), microelements (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo and Zn) and ultratrace (Ni, V) in Porphyra columbina and Ulva spp. in the San Jorge Gulf (Argentina) during 2002, in order to assess the spatial and seasonal variation of these elements, as well as for determining their nutritional contribution. These elements were quantified by inductively coupled argon plasma/optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) with solid-state detectors. The two algal species under study provide a great amount of essential elements and there is also the possibility of using them to fortify food or as an alternative diet with a very low caloric intake.