Comparison of nutritional quality and nutrient compositions of three edible tissues from different sourced cultured female mud crabs (Scylla paramamosain)

This study compared the nutritional quality and nutrient compositions of female mud crabs cultured in the coastal area around the Bohai Sea (BMC), the East China Sea (EMC), and the South China Sea (SMC). The results showed that BMC had the highest hepatopancreas index and meat yield and EMC had the highest gonadosomatic index and total edible yield. The protein content in the edible tissues of EMC and SMC was significantly higher than that of BMC. The essential amino acid index in the muscle and gonads of three-sourced female crabs was quantitatively higher than 70, meaning that the amino acid compositions in the muscle and gonads of BMC, EMC, and SMC showed good performance. The mineral element data revealed that they were all excellent mineral sources, especially the Zn content in the gonads, which was approximately 15 mg 100 g(-1.) Meanwhile, the polyunsaturated fatty acid contents of BMC were significantly higher than those of EMC and SMC, and BMC also had abundant eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), particularly in the muscle. Hence, although EMC and SMC contained more protein than BMC, the nutritional quality and nutrient composition of BMC was slightly better than those of EMC and SMC.