Abstract
The proximate, chemical and amino acid composition of four oven dried shell fish meat samples were analysed, Clam, (<i>Mercenaria mercenaria</i>), Whelk, (<i>Thias coronata</i>), Oyster (<i>Crassostrea gasar</i>), and Periwinkle (<i>Tympanotonus fuscatus</i>). Results shows that whelk has the highest moisture content of 13.96±0.01, followed by oyster 8.99±0.00, clam, 8.98±0.01 and periwinkle 6.50±0.04. The protein content of periwinkle was the highest with a protein content of 70.42±0.03, followed by oyster 64.70±0.00, whelk 47.3±0.03, and clam 46.90±0.00 was the least. Ash content was highest in whelk 5.62±0.00, followed by clam 5.07±0.03, oyster 4.23±0.00 and the least periwinkle 3.38±0.01. The fat content of oyster was the highest with 10.60±0.00, followed by clam 10.07±0.03, whelk 9.20±0.00, and periwinkle 4.76±0.01, the least. Whelk contains the highest crude fiber content 10.45±0.01, followed by clam 10.10±0.00, oyster 5.33±0.04 and periwinkle 3.56±0.01. The calcium content was highest in oyster 580±0.000mg/100g sample and the least clam 101±0.000mg, selenium was highest in clam 40±0.000mg, and lowest in oyster 0.50±0.014mg. Oyster contains the highest levels of phosphorus 200±0.000mg, and the least whelk 110±0.000mg. Periwinkle contains the highest levels of Magnesium 150±0.000mg and the least clam 40±0.000mg. Oyster contains the highest levels of Zinc 100±0.000mg, the least clam 70±0.000mg. Clam contains the highest levels of iron 330±0.000mg and the least periwinkle 183.10±0.071mg. The highest level of Sodium was found in oyster 590±0.000mg and lowest clam 150±1.414mg. The mineral content of the four shell fish however differ significantly from each other at the (P<0.05). All the four shell fish contains all the essential and non-essential amino acids, they however differ significantly from each other at (P<0.05). The total amino acid values was highest in oyster with total amino acid values of 86.05±0.071, followed by whelk with total amino acid values of 83.02±0.000, clam with total amino acid values of 82.22±0.014 and the least is periwinkle with total amino acid values of 78.45±0.000. Oyster contains the highest total essential amino acid values 42.06±0.000, followed by whelk with total essential amino acid values of 40.65±0.014, clam 39.90±0.014 and the least is periwinkle with total essential amino acid values of 35.16±0.014.
Highlights
Shell fish are relatively cheap sources of protein and other nutrients such as minerals and vitamins that are in abundance in the Niger Delta region of South-South Nigeria [1]
The proximate composition of the oven dried clam, whelk, oyster and periwinkle meat are presented on table 1
The protein content of periwinkle was highest with 70.42±0.03, followed by oyster 64.70±0.00, whelk 47.34±0.03 and clam 46.90±0.00
Summary
Shell fish are relatively cheap sources of protein and other nutrients such as minerals and vitamins that are in abundance in the Niger Delta region of South-South Nigeria [1]. Oysters and others, cephalopods such as squids and others [4] They are known good sources of protein and minerals [2]. This study examines the proximate, chemical and amino acid content of four selected oven dried shell fish meat with the aim of using such as alternative sources of protein in Nigeria. Since these shell fish are found in abundance in the Niger Delta regions, they are cheap and affordable. Nigeria at present stands as the nation with the poorest people in the world overtaking India [5]
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