Analysis and evaluation of nutritional components of <italic>Collichthys lucidus</italic> muscles from Mindong waters

Abstract

<italic>Collichthys lucidus</italic> is an important small economic fish species in coastal areas of China. Because of fast growth, large catches and delicious taste, it is loved by people of Fujian and Zhejiang in China. At present, there are only a few studies of <italic>C</italic>. <italic>lucidus</italic> on nutrition. To improve the basic data of quality and nutritional composition of muscle in this species, this study analyzed and evaluated the nutrient composition of <italic>C</italic>. <italic>lucidus</italic> muscles from Mindong waters. Nutritional components in muscle of <italic>C</italic>. <italic>lucidus</italic> were tested and analyzed with routine methods. Samples of 30 wild individuals, with (12.45±1.25) cm in body length and (37.15±13.25) g in body weight, were collected from Mindong waters during the reproductive season. The results showed that contents of moisture, crude ash, crude protein and crude fat of fresh muscles were (77.70±0.21)%, (1.49±0.59)%, (17.21±0.27)% and (0.56±0.05)%, respectively. There were 17 common amino acids found in muscles, including 7 essential amino acids (except Trp). In fresh sample, the total content of amino acids was (17.01±0.11)%, the content of essential amino acids was (6.09±0.06)%; in dry sample, the total content of amino acids was (76.30± 0.44)%; the content of essential amino acids was (27.33±0.29)%; the percentage of essential amino acids in total amino acids was 35.82%; the ratio of amino acids to no-essential amino acids (EAA/ NEAA) was 66.73%. The constitutional rate of the essential amino acids accorded with the FAO/WHO standard fundamentally. According to nutrition evaluation in amino acids score (AAS) and chemical score (CS), the first limited amino acid was Val, and the second limited amino acids were Leu and Phe+Tyr; the essential amino acids index (EAAI) was 67.04. In dry sample, the content of four kinds delicious amino acids was (26.24±0.01)%, and the percentage of delicious amino acids in total amino acids was 34.40%. 27 fatty acids were found in muscle of <italic>C</italic>. <italic>lucidus</italic>. There were 12 types of saturated fatty acids, accounting for (56.48±0.10)% of the total fatty acids. The content of C18∶0 in saturated fatty acids was the highest, accounting for (32.77±0.42)% of the total fatty acids. There were 7 types of monounsaturated fatty acids, accounting for (13.22±0.12)% of the total fatty acids, and 8 types of polyunsaturated fatty acids, accounting for (30.31±0.18)% of the total fatty acids. The percentages of EPA and DHA in total fatty acids of <italic>C</italic>. <italic>lucidus</italic> were (8.23±0.14)% and (13.22±0.12)%, respectively. The composition of trace elements in muscles of <italic>C</italic>. <italic>lucidus</italic> was reasonable. Therefore, <italic>C</italic>. <italic>lucidus</italic> is delicious fish species with balanced nutrition and relatively high nutritional value, which deserves further exploitation and popularization.