Effects of Water Salinity on the Nutritional Quality of Eriocheir sinensis Hepatopancreas
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Abstract:
The effects of water salinity (0‰, 6‰, 12‰, and 18‰) on the hepatosomatic index and nutritional quality of Chinese mitten crab hepatopancreas were explored in this paper. The results showed that the hepatosomatic index was relatively high in medium and low salinity groups (12‰ and 6‰) and that the highest value was found at a salinity of 6‰. The low salinity group had the lowest moisture and ash content, and the medium salinity group was characterized by high protein and low fat. Most minerals at high levels were found at medium and high salinities (18‰), and for male crabs, all elements (except for Mn) were at the highest levels when salinity was 12‰. High salinity could reduce the proportions of unsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in crab hepatopancreas; at other salinities, the total amount of fatty acids showed no significant changes, except for several fatty acids such as oleic acid. Salinity had a small impact on the amino acids in male crab hepatopancreas, and for female crabs, the lowest and highest total amino acid content were found at the salinities of 6‰ and 18‰, respectively. The essential amino acid index was significantly higher for the high salinity group compared with other groups. Under conditions of 0-12‰ salinity, limiting amino acids were present, mainly leucine and sulfur-containing amino acids. In summary, the nutritional quality of crab hepatopancreas fluctuated widely at high salinity, while medium and low salinity groups balanced both high yield and high nutritional value.
