## 4 Discussion
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{l c c c c c c c c} \hline \hline  & \% & & & **mg/100 g DW** & & & \\ \hline \multirow{2}{*}{_U. pinmatifida_} & N & P & Ca & Mg & K & Na & Fe & Zn & Cu & Mn & Ref. \\  & ND & 450–1070 & 693–950 & 405–630 & 5679–691 & 3511–6494 & ND & 0.94–3.86 & 0.94–3.86 & 0.33–0.69 & [59; 61] \\ _S. polyschides_ & 1-2.8 & 2.5 & 897–220 & 240–1288 & 6575–18800 & 70 & 555–303 & 0.05 & 0.01 & 0.01 & [62; 66] \\ _S. latissima_ & 1.63 & ND & 919.4 & 611.1 & 3869.4 & 3048.3 & 185.4 & 3.86 & 3.86 & 0.56 & [32; 45] \\ L. _c.chroleuca_ * & ND & 1.8 & 10.6 & 4.1 & 84.3 & 20.4 & 87.0 & 243.0 & 18.5 & ND & [65] \\ NVR (mg) & ND & 700 & 800 & 375 & 2000 & 600 & 14 & 10 & 1 & 2 & [67; 68] \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
* The results are expressed in mg/kg.  
\end{table} 
Table 9: Nutritional characterization of the dried biomass of _U. pinmatifida_, _S. latissima_, _L. chroleuca_, and _S. polyschides_ according to the literature. ND—not determined. ingested as part of our diet has a significant impact on the prevention and mitigation of osteoporosis symptoms [73; 74]. Iron is an important macronutrient since it is found in hemoglobin, responsible for the oxygen supply in the human body [75; 76; 77]. In addition, it is essential to ensure iron intake since it is a key component in DNA and RNA synthesis [12; 78]. This element is also involved in several metabolic processes, such as energy transport, and as a structural molecule in the formation of bones and membranes [79; 80]. Potassium and sodium are vital electrolytes that aid the regulation of blood pressure, muscle contraction, heartbeat, and kidney function [81; 82]. The imbalance of the intake of these nutrients often leads to the development of cardiovascular diseases [82; 83]. Potassium is a particularly important element to stimulate kidney function [84; 85]. The micronutrients zinc, copper, and manganese play critical roles in the human metabolism, as catalytic, structural, and regulatory processes, and are especially important for the neurological and cardiovascular systems [86; 87; 88]. Seasonal changes and geographical distribution may also contribute to the variation in the seaweed lipidic profile [89; 90; 91]. Although geographical differences may influence the genotypic expression and thus contribute to the potential phenotypic variability, they are primarily explained by phenotypic changes resulting from the environmental changes, mainly in water nutrients, light, and temperature, and may be meaningful even at minor spatial scales [92; 93; 94; 64]. For instance, the seaweed _U. pinmatifida_ harvested in central Portugal (Figueira da Foz, Buarcos bay) in January 2020 unveiled a different fatty acid profile, presenting the SFA C18:0, the MUFA C15:1, and the PUFA C20:4 [95], while _S. latissima_ harvested in March of 2017 in Norway revealed a varied outline of fatty acids, presenting the SFA C17:0 and C18:0, as well as PUFA, such as C18:2 \(\omega\)-6, C20:4 \(\omega\)-6, and C18:4 \(\omega\)-3 [96]. Other teams of researchers found that _Saccharina latissima_ (July--summer), _Sacorhiza polysaccharides_ (January--winter) and _Laminaria ocroleuca_ (September--summer) collected in the north of Portugal (Viana do Castelo) presented a different fatty acid profile depending on the harvesting season [97]. In comparison with our results, these seaweeds revealed different qualitative and quantitative lipidic profiles [97]. Fatty acids are essential components of cell membranes that play crucial roles as energy sources in body growth and development [95; 98; 99]. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) \(\omega\)-3 and \(\omega\)-6 make up a significant amount of seaweed lipids, despite their modest crude lipid content. PUFAs are important elements of all cell membranes and precursors of eicosanoids, which are fundamental myriad regulators of different biological activities [100].