Multi-element profile (essential and potentially toxic elements) of seaweeds from the northeast coast of Brazil

Seaweeds are a potential source of microelements essential for human health, and there is still a gap in studies in Brazil. In this study, multi-element determination, after multivariate optimization, was performed in nine species of seaweeds by microwave induced plasma optical emission spectrometry (MIP OES). The concentrations, in mg kg−1, of essential and non-essential microelements were as follows: Al (45.1–884.9), Cr (< 0.6–253.1), Cu (< 1.4–3.3), Fe (18.2–280.7), Mn (30.6–306.8), Ni (< 0.3–1.6), Pb (3.9–17.6) and Zn (6.4–21.5). The nutritional potential was evaluated by the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of the elements. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) showed the formation of 4 groups among the seaweed samples. Caulerpa mexicana, Padina sp., and Sargassum vulgare had the highest contribution of microelements up to 2 %, 10 %, 69 % and 1.6 % of RDI for Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn, respectively. This study contributed to knowledge of the multielement composition and potential of seaweeds as an alternative diet.