Fatty acids profile of Spirulina platensis grown under different temperatures and nitrogen concentrations.

The influence of culture temperature and the concentration of sodium nitrate (NaNO3) on the gas-chromatographic profile of the fatty acids of the filamentous cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis was evaluated. We found that temperature was the most important factor and that the greatest amount of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) was obtained at 30 degrees C, the fatty acid profile of the Spirulina cultivated showing that (in order of abundance) palmitic, linolenic and linoleic acids were most prevalent.