A comparative evaluation of the nutritional quality of Eriocheir sinensis and Eriocheir japonica (Brachyura, Varunidae)

Abstract

Abstract The Japanese mitten crab Eriocheir japonica is an economically important species widely distributed throughout the East Asia region, but information on the compositional characteristics and nutritional quality of E. japonica is still scarce. Thus, this study was conducted to compare the edible tissue indices, proximate composition, fatty acid profiles and amino acid contents between wild E. sinensis and E. japonica. It showed that: (1) both E. sinensis and E. japonica have a high total edible yield (approximately 40%); (2) E. sinensis and E. japonica have a similar proximate composition, except for total lipids; (3) female E. japonica have higher percentages of C18:3n3, C20:5n3 and C22:6n3; (4) E. sinensis have higher levels of essential amino acids than E. japonica in muscle. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that wild E. japonica is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and both E. sinensis and E. japonica are aquatic food of high nutritional value, with a high edible yield.