Donax trunculus L., 1758 (Bivalvia: Donacidae) from Bulgarian Waters of the Black Sea as a Sustainable Source of Macronutrients

The aim of the present study was to determine the chemical composition in terms of crude proteins, total lipids, carbohydrates, energy value and macroelements in Donax trunculus sampled from June to November from the Bulgarian coast of the Black Sea. Crude protein, carbohydrates and total lipids were determined using standard procedures. Macroelements (K, Ca, Mg and Na) were determined by ICP-OES. Analysed samples were characterised by high protein (15.2 +/- 1.0 to 17.3 +/- 0.2 g/100 g) and low lipid content (1.12 +/- 0.05 to 5.15 +/- 0.27 g/100 g). Lipid levels showed greater variations. Carbohydrates varied between 1.30 and 2.85 g/100 g and the energy values were between 97.7 and 116.0 kcal/100 g. Concentrations of the analysed macroelements varied between 1171 and 2820 mg/kg ww for K; 806 and 1946 mg/kg ww for Ca; 471 and 511 mg/kg ww for Mg; 2112 and 2223 mg/kg ww for Na. The present study revealed new data on the chemical composition of D. trunculus harvested from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Despite the variations in their composition, the results show that D. trunculus could be a healthy choice of low-energy dense food due to high protein and macroelement levels and low lipid, carbohydrate and energy contents.