Macroalgae produce compounds with industrial, pharmaceutical and nutritional applications. In this study, biomass from the freshwater macroalgal genus Oedogonium was grown in either treated municipal wastewater (M) or ash dam water from a coal-fired power station (D). The biomass was investigated for its metabolic responses in high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rats, a model of human metabolic syndrome. The Oedogonium biomass cultured in M contained higher amounts of K, Mg, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), insoluble fibre and β-carotene, while biomass grown in D contained higher amounts of Al, Fe, V, Zn, Mn and As. Biomass from M further increased body weight and inflammation in the heart and colon in high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rats. In contrast, biomass from D prevented changes in metabolic, cardiovascular and liver parameters without changing tissue histology. We suggest that increased intake of metals and metalloids through macroalgal biomass from D may decrease abdominal fat deposition while polysaccharides, PUFA and carotenoids from M may improve blood glucose responses in an obesogenic diet. Thus, macroalgal biomass grown in different wastewater sources could be acceptable for feed or food applications. This biomass could even provide potential health benefits in diet-induced metabolic syndrome.
Keywords: biomass; freshwater; high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet; macroalgae; metabolic syndrome; rat model.