Nutritional Aspects of Various Edible Crustaceans in India | Chapter 8 | Advanced Research in Biological Science Vol. 9

The present study highlights about stimulate interest in the fascinating group of organisms by summarizing what little we do know about lipids and fatty acids of freshwater crabs in India. We explore carbohydrate, protein and lipid contents of an animal because of utilization of those components for our betterment i.e. resource utilization for health. Thus, human exploit and incorporate many such animals in their food chain. Lipids play important roles in the metabolism and reproduction of decapods crustaceans. Indian prospect is no better where epidemic of coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes is ongoing with no signs of a recession. Edible crustaceans, including prawns, crab, shrimp, crayfish, and lobster, are a key source of nutrient-dense food for humans. The biochemical makeup of crustaceans, including their protein, amino acid, lipid, fatty acid, carbohydrate, vitamin, and mineral content, determines their nutritional value. Freshwater crabs are a cheap food source that have a lot of potential for human consumption in India, where they can be found in almost all freshwater habitats. However, basic information about these creatures, like the biochemical makeup of their body flesh and hepatopancreas, which humans can consume, is still unknown and has not been linked to any specific nutritional benefits for the Indian populace.  Freshwater crabs are neglected in various parts of world as well as in India also. But they have good quality proteins and fatty acids in their edible part. In this article, occurrence of major lipid and fatty acids were addressed. Among fatty acids, SFA especially C16 total and C18 total; MUFA, PUFA, linoleic acid (18:2ω6), linolenic acid (18:3ω3), EPA (20:5ω3) and DHA (22:6ω3) were compared in body flesh of various edible crustaceans. It was observed that Indian freshwater crab have a high content of MUFA and PUFA which makes them nutritionally attractive. The fatty acid profile exhibit a greater percentage of EPA and DHA of total fatty acids. The n3/n6 ratio maintains less than 1% in the body flesh of crabs. Exploration of the nutritional quality of freshwater crab will encourage farmers to promote freshwater crab culture in India. As well as the consumption of freshwater crab may help to prevent nutritional deficiencies in future and the topic is important for that.

Author(s) Details:

Mohua Das,
Department of Zoology, Shyampur Siddheswari Mahavidyalaya, Howrah, West Bengal, India.

K. K. Misra,
Department of Zoology, Asutosh College, Kolkata-700026, West Bengal, India.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/ARBS-V9/article/view/13736