Exploring the Nutritive Values of the Fresh Water Mussel Lamellidens marginalis as Potential Functional Food

Abstract

Prevention of under-nutrition has emerged as a critical challenge to India's development planners in recent times. Insufficient protein consumption results in Protein Energy Malnutrition among the children in our Country. Due to increasing cost, limited amount of animal protein and the limited potential for improving the situation through increased animal production, the need of the hour is to search for an efficient utilization of cheap and available unconventional animal protein resources. Molluscs are regarded as under-exploited source of health-benefit molecules. Present investigation attempts to evaluate the nutritive values of the fresh water bivalve Lamellidens marginalis, widely accepted as food all over India. Proximate analyses revealed that mussel meat contains moderate amount of protein (8.30±0.67%), carbohydrate (8.01± 0.38%) and reducing sugar (4.75± 0.07%), but less amount of fat (1.02± 0.20%) and crude fibre (0.01± .001%). Lipid constitutes substantial amount of omega-3-fatty acids like, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which have proven prophylactic values. Protein analysis shows the presence of several essential amino acids required for proper body growth and maintenance. Moreover, antioxidant activity of the haemolymph further established that this benthic mussel can serve as an excellent alternate food source and can thus be commercialized as low cost functional food.