Chemical composition of Atlantic spider crab Maja brachydactyla: Human health implications

The Atlantic spider crab Maja brachydactyla is highly appreciated and widely consumed in Southern European countries. Because there is a lack of nutritional information concerning this species, this study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of muscle, hepatopancreas and gonads of M. brachydactyla and to analyze the health implications for consumers. All tissues were valuable sources of high quality proteins, amino acids (e.g. glutamic acid, aspartic acid, arginine, leucine and taurine) and macro and trace elements (e.g. Na, Cl, Cu, Zn and Se). Muscle and gonads were particularly richer in essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g. 20:5n-3, 22:6n-3), and had lower fat, calories, Ca, Fe, Cd, saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids than hepatopancreas. Low to moderate cholesterol values were found in all tissues. Consequently, the consumption of the muscle and gonads of Atlantic spider crab is adequate for cholesterol-restricted, low fat, balanced and safe meat diets to meet consumers' requirements. In contrast, hepatopancreas consumption is not recommended in such diets due to the high levels of fat, energy, Cd, and saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.