Global trends in marine nutraceuticals

An expanding body of scientific research indicates that the marine environment is emerging as a unique resource of functional food ingredients with health-promoting properties. Significant attention has been paid to exploration of potential nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals derived from the ocean. Marine-based  nutraceuticals are gaining attention due to their unique features, which are absent in terrestrial-based resources. A number of new marine nutraceutical products have been introduced in the nutraceuticals and functional foods markets. The main sources and products of primary interest for marine nutraceuticals and ingredients include omega-3 fish/algal oil, phospholipids, micro/macro algal nutrition supplements, fish proteins and peptides, hydrolysates, shellfish chitin, fish collagen, and mineral supplements.