Comparison of fatty acid and amino acid profiles of steamed Chinese mitten crab

The fatty acid and amino acid compositions of different grades of steamed Chinese mitten crab were analyzed. In total, 37 types of fatty acid were identified and quantified, with monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) constituting approximately 70 % of all fatty acids. Oleic acid, palmitic acid, and linoleic acid were dominant with approximately 30, 20, and 10 % of overall contents, respectively. The highest levels of fatty acids were found in special-grade animals, followed by first-grade and second-grade samples. The ratio of n-3/n-6 PUFAs ranged from 0.54 to 2.64, showing Eriocheir sinensis to be rich in n-3 PUFAs. In addition, claw and body meat were rich in amino acids and essential amino acids (EAA), while leg meat had higher content of flavor amino acids (FAA). Among almost all amino acids, the highest levels were found in Eriocheir sinensis of special grade, then first and second grade. On the whole, our results indicate that special-grade Eriocheir sinensis is highly nutritious due to its high levels of fatty acids and amino acids.