Proximate, Mineral and Amino acid Composition of Dried Laver (Porphyra spp.) Seaweed

Abstract

Major nutritional compositions of dried laver (Porphyra spp.) were evaluated in this study. Findings showed that dried laver contains: moisture (9.34-9.46%), crude protein (42.939–43.041%), dietary fibres (31.598-31.662%), total ash (10.267-10.333%), and crude fat (0.45-0.53%), and total carbohydrate (36.64-37.00%). The total energy value was estimated to be 8,467.69 KJ.kg-1 . Among the mineral elements (Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn) analyzed, potassium was the most abundant (1390.76 -1399.24 mg/100 g), while copper was present in the lowest concentration (1.36-1.40 mg/100 g DW). The total and free essential amino acids were 14412.69 mg/100 g and 56.06 mg/100 g respectively. Glutamic, alanine and aspartic amino acids were high in the total amino acids, while, arginine was high in the free amino acids. The dried laver showed appreciable nutritional composition and energy value thus, laver could be an alternative ingredient in the food products.