The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional composition of the red alga Rodhymenia howeana. Tests performed: proximal analysis determined according to AOAC, mineral content by atomic absorption spectroscopy, amino acid count by cation exchange chromatography using an amino acid analyzer, vitamin C content and total phenols by spectrophotometry. The most important results of the proximal analysis were 28.56% of protein; 21.08% ash and traces of ethereal extract (lipids) in dry sample. Of the mineral content: iron 502 mg / kg and zinc 18.54 mg / kg of dry sample of algae. The most abundant essential amino acids (mg / 100 g of dry sample) were: valine 95, leucine 116 and lysine 116.2 and among the non-essential ones relevant: alanine 139, aspartic acid 244 and glutamic acid 313. Of the antioxidant components the content of vitamin C was 1.12 mg in 100 g of dry sample and of ...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the vitamin E protective effects against free radicals generation, as it is involved in atheroma plate formation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used adult Sprague-Dawley rats as experimental models during three months, arranged into four groups: 1) Control diet group; 2) Control diet plus vitamin E (500 mg/Kg of food) group; 3) cholesterol-rich diet (3%) plus vitamin E group, and 4) cholesterol-rich diet group. Lipid profile and lipid peroxidation were measured both in serum and aortic tissue. RESULTS: The cholesterol-rich diet caused a significant increase (p <0,05) in serum triglycerides, and total and LDL cholesterol levels and a significant decrease in HDL cholesterol (p <0,005) levels despite vitamin E (12 mg/day) supplementation. Group IV showed a significant increase (p <0,005) in lipid peroxidation in serum and aortic tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin E provid...