Nutrient and energy composition of flesh, limbs and carapace of Callinectes amnicola (Blue Crab) from Great Kwa river, South East Nigeria

Abstract

This study compared some nutrient and energy levels in three body parts of Callinectes amnicola using AOAC methods. Fresh crab specimens were collected from Great Kwa River landing site in Calabar- Nigeria. Results showed that C. amnicola is rich in nutrients, which were unevenly distributed across the body parts. For proximate, moisture was the most predominant (71.50±0.10g/100g- 81.40±0.01g/100g), the dry matter representing about one-fourth the total body weight. Protein and fat recorded highest values in the flesh (36.30±0.01g/100g and 24.54±0.02g/100g, respectively) and least in the carapace (30.30±0.02g/100g and 12.59±0.01g/100g, respectively) (p<0.05). On the contrary, the flesh had the lowest carbohydrate (29.82±0.02g/100g), ash (7.26±0.02g/100g) and fibre (1.91±0.01g/100g) contents, which showed highest values in the carapace (40.10±0.10g/100g, 13.17±0.02g/100g and 3.70±0.10g/100g, respectively). Energy value was generally low (4.50±0.09kcal/g-5.79±0.36kcal/g). For minerals, sodium (139.25±0.36mg/100g-154.46±0.08mg/100g) and calcium (105.46±0.01mg/100g- 143.53±0.06mg/100g) were the most predominant. The micro-mineral elements iron and zinc also occurred in appreciable quantities, with the highest contents in the flesh (16.42±0.10mg/100g and 4.47±0.06mg/100g, respectively) and lowest in the carapace (9.56±0.06mg/100g and 2.53±0.12mg/100g, respectively). The flesh, limbs and carapace of C. amnicola are a significant source of nutrients. Toxicological and biological investigation should consider possible use of powdered nutritious exoskeleton of C. amnicola as nutraceutical agent.