Catarino, Marcelo D.Circuncisão, Ana R.Silva, SóniaPinto, DianaPereira, Olívia R.Cardoso, Susana M.2025-06-132025-06-132025Catarino, Marcelo D.; Circuncisão, Ana R.; Silva, Sónia; Pinto, Diana; Pereira, Olívia R.; Cardoso, Susana M. (2025). Himanthalia elongata: An overview of its chemical composition and health-related benefits. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. ISSN 0889-1575. 143, p. 1-220889-1575http://hdl.handle.net/10198/34598Himanthalia elongata, commonly known as sea spaghetti, is a brown seaweed found along the Atlantic coasts of Europe, particularly in regions such as Ireland, France, and the United Kingdom, where it is considered a delicacy and is commonly used in salads, soups, and as a pasta substitute. It is renowned for its impressive nutritional profile and potential health benefits, offering a significant amount of dietary fiber, vitamins and protein, including all essential amino acids, thus making it an excellent supplement for vegetarian and vegan diets. It is also a rich source of minerals such as iodine, calcium, magnesium, and iron, and valuable phytochemicals such as phlorotannins and fucoxanthin. The high diversity of bioactive compounds found in H. elongata makes it remarkably versatile in terms of bioactivities, including the capacity to regulate oxidative stress, inflammation, gut microbiota and several other cellular and physiological functions, thus contributing to healthy aging, risk reduction of cardiovascular disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome and other chronic diseases. This review pro- vides a comprehensive overview of the nutritional and chemical composition of H. elongata, highlighting its reported biological activities and potential applications in the food and health industriesengBrown seaweedHimanthalia elongataBioactivitiesTechnological innovationMarine resourcesreview10.1016/j.jfca.2025.107587