Vitamin C
Algae provide a worthwhile source of vitamin C (Qasim et Barkati 1985). The levels of
Vitamin C average between 500 to 3000 mg/kg of dry matter for the green and brown algae (a
level comparable with that of parsley, blackcurrant, and peppers), whereas the red algae contains
vitamin C levels of around 100 to 800 mg/ kg. Vitamin C is of interest for many reasons : it
strengthens the immune defence system, activates the intestinal absorption of iron, controls the
formation of conjunctive tissue and the protidic matrix of bony tissue, and also acts in trapping
free radicals and regenerates Vitamin E.