{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,5]],"date-time":"2026-05-05T22:15:19Z","timestamp":1778019319730,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":124,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,17]],"date-time":"2025-06-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1750118400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UIDB\/00276\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/00276\/2020"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001871","name":"Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["LA\/P\/0059\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["LA\/P\/0059\/2020"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001871","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Foods"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Microalgae are increasingly recognised as sustainable, nutrient-dense sources of bioactive compounds with broad health-promoting potential. Rich in carotenoids, phenolics, polyunsaturated fatty acids, phycobiliproteins, sterols, and essential vitamins, microalgae offer a promising foundation for functional foods targeting chronic disease prevention. This narrative review explores the nutritional profiles and biological effects of key species, including Spirulina (Limnospira platensis), Chlorella, Haematococcus, and Nannochloropsis. Scientific evidence supports their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, and metabolic regulatory activities, contributing to reduced risks of cardiovascular, metabolic, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative disorders. Special emphasis is placed on the synergistic benefits of consuming whole biomass compared to isolated compounds and the technological strategies, such as encapsulation, cell wall disruption, and nutrient optimisation, that enhance the bioavailability of microalgal bioactives. Furthermore, the environmental advantages of microalgae cultivation, such as minimal land and freshwater requirements, carbon sequestration, and wastewater bioremediation, highlight their role in the transition toward sustainable food systems. Despite challenges related to high production costs, sensory attributes, scalability, and regulatory approval, advances in biotechnology, processing, and formulation are paving the way for their broader application. Overall, microalgae represent next-generation bioactive sources that promote human health and environmental sustainability, positioning them as key players in future functional foods and nutraceuticals.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/foods14122122","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,17]],"date-time":"2025-06-17T03:37:07Z","timestamp":1750131427000},"page":"2122","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":27,"title":["Microalgae Bioactives for Functional Food Innovation and Health Promotion"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2666-1774","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9 L.","family":"Guil-Guerrero","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Tecnolog\u00eda de Alimentos, Universidad de Almer\u00eda, 04120 Almer\u00eda, Spain"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1032-5987","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9 A. M.","family":"Prates","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIISA\u2014Centro de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterin\u00e1ria, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade T\u00e9cnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal"},{"name":"Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Av. da Universidade T\u00e9cnica, 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ortega, A., and Campos, M. (2019). Bioactive Compounds as Therapeutic Alternatives. Bioactive Compounds, Springer Nature.","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-814774-0.00013-X"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Badhwar, R., Kaur, G., Popli, H., Yadav, D., and Buttar, H. (2020). Pathophysiology of Obesity-Related Non-communicable Chronic Diseases and Advancements in Preventive Strategies. 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